In what experts call the largest aerial dogfight in decades, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and Indian Air Force (IAF) engaged in a high-intensity clash on May 7, sparked by escalating tensions over Kashmir. The aerial engagement, involving over 100 aircraft, was first reported by Reuters based on accounts from Indian, Pakistani, and Western military officials.
Kashmir Attack Triggers Regional Escalation
The confrontation followed an attack in Indian-administered Kashmir in April that killed 26 civilians. India blamed Pakistan-based militants, prompting retaliatory airstrikes across the Line of Control. Islamabad denied involvement but placed its air defenses and fighter squadrons on high alert.
J-10C vs Rafale: Pakistan Goes on the Offensive
PAF Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu, anticipating Indian retaliation, was stationed in the air force’s operations room for days. When dozens of Indian fighter jets entered the region’s airspace early on May 7, PAF scrambled its Chinese-made J-10C aircraft, armed with long-range PL-15 air-to-air missiles.
A senior Pakistani official told Reuters that Sidhu’s explicit instructions were to target Rafale jets, India’s most advanced French-built fighters. The result was a complex, one-hour air battle involving at least 110 aircraft and dozens of long-range missile launches.
PL-15 Missile Surprises India’s Rafale Fleet
Indian Rafale pilots believed they were out of danger, assuming Pakistan’s PL-15 had a range of 150 km. However, one Rafale was shot down from over 200 km, Reuters reported. The Indian Air Force later acknowledged that their intelligence assessments had underestimated the capabilities of the PL-15.
The report caused international ripples, as defense analysts and markets reacted. Indonesia, a prospective buyer of Rafales, expressed renewed interest in the J-10 platform, and shares of Dassault Aviation fell.
Electronic Warfare and Real-Time Combat Networking
PAF executed what officials describe as a fully synchronized multi-domain response. Pakistan’s locally developed Data Link 17 enabled seamless data integration between Chinese-built fighters, Swedish early-warning aircraft, and ground stations.
This system allowed J-10Cs to fly with their radars off, receiving targeting information from surveillance aircraft, giving PAF superior situational awareness without revealing their position. Indian officials admitted their own data link system is still under development and is challenged by the IAF’s mixed-origin aircraft fleet.
Beyond Visual Range: Air War at a Distance
According to a Reuters-quoted RUSI (UK) analyst, this was the first major air war fought entirely with Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missiles. Both countries remained within their own airspace, relying on missiles to engage targets hundreds of kilometers away.
Retired UK Air Marshal Greg Bagwell told Reuters, “This wasn’t a dogfight in the classic sense. The winner had better information, and used it first.”
India Responds with BrahMos Strikes
In retaliation, the Indian Air Force launched a coordinated missile strike on May 10, using indigenous BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles. According to Indian military officials, at least nine radar and support sites in Pakistan were hit, including a parked early warning aircraft.
The conflict de-escalated later that day following U.S.-led backchannel diplomacy. A temporary ceasefire agreement is currently in place.
China’s Role: Support or Surveillance?
India has since alleged that Pakistan received real-time satellite and radar inputs from China during the May 7 encounter. Pakistan denies these claims, while Beijing calls its cooperation with Pakistan “normal military-to-military engagement.”
In July, Chinese Air Force Chief Lt. Gen. Wang Gang visited Pakistan to assess PAF’s multi-domain integration. Pakistani officials claim their performance has strengthened future collaboration with Chinese defense platforms.
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