How Did The Pakistani Military Bring Down Five Indian Fighter Jets?

At the onset of the encounter, 10 Pakistani fighter jets were on standby over Pakistan, while 12 Indian fighter jets entered the border region. India subsequently deployed over 60 additional fighter jets, including 14 Rafale jets, to the area in an effort to overwhelm and intimidate the Pakistani side, raising the total number of Indian aircraft near the Pakistani border to 72. In response, Pakistan dispatched 42 fighter jets to counter this move. Ultimately, this clash resulted in the downing of five Indian fighter jets, marking a significant early setback for India.

In this conflict, Pakistan managed to shoot down five Indian fighter jets, which included three French Rafale fighters, one Sukhoi Su-30, and one MiG-29 fighter jet within the border region.

A critical takeaway from this brief air battle was the seemingly careless and possibly overconfident approach of the Indian Air Force. By flying their jets close to the Pakistani border, India effectively placed them in considerable jeopardy. Conversely, the Pakistani forces, recognizing their limitations compared to India’s capabilities, strategically maintained a safe distance for most of their fighters over Pakistani airspace and skillfully employed PL-15E beyond-visual-range missiles to engage various Indian aircraft. Additionally, Pakistani AWACS made a significant contribution to this air victory for Pakistan.