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Evolving air situation in Kashmir. Another tweet said we've shot down a PAF fighter in Jhangar. Waiting for confirmation.
PAF trying to 'avenge' Balakot. Lets see how this evolves. 
Indigo flight returns back to Delhi from Srinagar w/o landing. Northern Command on alert. Air action happening.
pic source: @nishantbadyal
pic source: @nishantbadyal
Airspace shut over J&K. We're in for some serious business here.
Confirmation about attack on Indian positions in Rajouri and Jhangar.
First word out on areas bombed by PAF on Indian side:
Another source mentioning that a PAF jet was shot down. If it was indeed shot down, would be interesting to see by what asset - MANPAD or IAF jets.
Some details. Pretty stupid of PAF to attempt this if an IAF Combat Air Patrol (CAP) was in the air. Most probably, PAF thought they'd get away before CAP can react. Seems IAF radars picked them up early & vectored own fighters into advantageous position
If indeed this was Su-30MKI versus F-16, and if news about PAF jets having crashed in POK is true, then ladies and gentlemen, we might have here first Beyond-Visual-Range (BVR) kill of the sub-continent. Sukhois have lived up to their reputation.
OK, this is absolutely contrary development. We need more clarity on this:
And now this - 🤪
This picture is from a place close to crash site in Budgam - this, to me, looks like a missile trail. Either, an air-to-air missile fired from PAF fighter or a man-portable, surface to air missile (MANPAD).
Speculation on my part: IAF lost a Mig-21 and a Mi-17 while PAF might have lost a F-16. Lets wait for more information. But one thing is for sure, this is not ending here.
If he says its confirmed, than its confirmed. PAF F-16 shot down.
So, one bit of puzzle is solved. Mi-17V5 it was. And was not shot down. I assumption was wrong.
^^^On the above, I'll still await some more news. I don't want to rule out the shooting part.
First visuals of what seems like PAF crash inside India.
This picture....check the hole in the tail boom. Reason I don't want to rule out missile attack, even if its MANPAD. Need to wait for more information. Pic source: @reachanshul
And the fog of war continues - another story, another angle. And if the bit about Pakistan shooting down their own F-16 is true, than this would most probably be 3rd time that Pakistanis would've shot down their own F-16!
All IAF pilots are accounted for - Did DG ISPR tweet about capture of IAF pilot to obfuscate? And divert attention from PAF losses?
Some visual confirmation of what might have happened:
Some information on possibility of IAF pilot in PAF custody:
Some visuals from Pakistan of downed IAF fighter. We still need to wait for official word on what happened.
Above pics - 1st pic: Looks like tail section of Mig-21. Can make out vertical and horizontal stabilizers.
Confirmation on IAF pilot in Pakistan custody:
MEA Press Conference - So, my conjecture was true. PAF lost a F-16 to our Mig-21 Bison. From cold military perspective, that is a good exchange. F-16 represents the cutting edge of PAF. Relatively, F-16 loss is much bigger loss than loosing Mig-21 Bison.
Good to see Wing Co in good health and being treated as a soldier should be by a professional army.
Waiting for credible evidence in this regard. There will be serious egg on PAF's face.
Details emerging of what happened in the air in Srinagar today:
Further information. So, we lost our fighter to ground fire and none to PAF air combat? All propaganda by them? 😏
More details and information of air battle today.
Let's summarize what happened today (27th February):
PAF made an attempt to target some Indian Army positions in Rajouri sector. It was challenged by a mix force of Su-30 MKI and Mig-21 Bisons (from 51 Squadron, Srinagar). This force forced the PAF to withdraw and the ensuing+
PAF made an attempt to target some Indian Army positions in Rajouri sector. It was challenged by a mix force of Su-30 MKI and Mig-21 Bisons (from 51 Squadron, Srinagar). This force forced the PAF to withdraw and the ensuing+
+ melee, Indian Mig-21 Bison shot down Pakistani F-16. Cross-referencing various accounts shows that this F-16 was dual seat. Indian Mig-21 Bison was in-turn shot either by another F-16 or ground fire/SAM. Now, using whatever context, Mig-21 shooting down F-16 should+
+ be a news to celebrate, even if we lost one Mig-21. F-16 represents the cutting edge of PAF and even a single a/c loss is big for them. But - India ended-up looking 'defeated' because we ceded the narrative battle. Pakistanis paraded captured Indian pilot and made some+
+ fantastic claims of shooting down two IAF fighters. Pics & videos of captured pilot were released online. We on the other hand, had a measly press conference which did not give any details that were not known nor took questions. We should've talked about the failed PAF attempt+
+ to enter Indian airspace to bomb our targets, challenge by IAF Su-30 MKI and Bison and shooting down of F-16 by our Mig-21! But we did nothing. The true story of air-battle has trickled down SM from some reputed ex-armed forces personnel. We're at war and losing fighter+
+ aircraft and pilots is part of the game. Its hard reality. And people have the right to know, especially when adversary is spinning yarns. Hope we've better media management henceforth.
As I retire for the night (hopefully!), there are two thoughts in my mind -
(1) Our daring fighter pilot showd 'aukaat' of F-16 with his Mig-21 Bison
(2) Pray to Bholenath for safety, security, good health and earliest return of our fighter pilot, Wing Commander Abhi.
(1) Our daring fighter pilot showd 'aukaat' of F-16 with his Mig-21 Bison
(2) Pray to Bholenath for safety, security, good health and earliest return of our fighter pilot, Wing Commander Abhi.
Hope he's back soon.
So, I came across this #SayNoToWar being tweeted by two kind of people - Pakistanis and Indian Left Liberal Loony Brigade. You idiots, of course Pakistan doesn't want war. Because it has no money to sustain ops and it will get a whacking from India. It suits them perfectly to +
+ send illiterate Jihadis into Kashmir, create unrest there, tie down our security forces and make us bleed. There is no cost on Pakistan or its elite. But if India goes to war, then their elite can and will suffer. India on the other hand is already at war. Otherwise+
+ those 45+ CRPF jawans wouldn't have died. Or countless others over the years. We've been at war from 1947. We've been paying the price in terms of money & lives of fellow Indians (common people and soldiers). Let us not delude ourselves. Ask Pakistan to stop sending terrorists+
+ into India. And the whole adversarial attitude will end. But Pakistan will not do so. It wants business-as-usual in Kashmir while looking forward to 'peace' in rest of India. Basically, 'heads I win, tails you lost' We need to call their bluff.
This is something which I'm hearing for the first time.
And while we, the nation, anticipate the next course of action and prays for safe return of Wing Co Abhinandan, please spare your thoughts for 6 IAF personnel who lost their lives in Mi-17V5 crash yesterday. War or 'peace', flying remains a risky business:
An excellent piece by Lt General Panag on possible future course of action for India. He says, given Pakistan's track record of broken promises, we need to compel it to address our concerns. And military escalation is a way to do it.
Please do read:
theprint.in/opinion/despit…
Please do read:
theprint.in/opinion/despit…
Positive development of the day. Hope to see him soon on Indian soil.
Details of what happened yesterday:
(1) 24 PAF fighters
Strike:
F-16: 08
Mirage-III: 04
JF-17: 04
Fighter Escort- 08
(2) IAF:
Su-30MKI: 04
Mirage-2000 (upgraded):02
Mig-21 Bison-02
(3) Wing Co Abhi shot down F-16 with R-73 missile
ndtv.com/india-news/24-…
(1) 24 PAF fighters
Strike:
F-16: 08
Mirage-III: 04
JF-17: 04
Fighter Escort- 08
(2) IAF:
Su-30MKI: 04
Mirage-2000 (upgraded):02
Mig-21 Bison-02
(3) Wing Co Abhi shot down F-16 with R-73 missile
ndtv.com/india-news/24-…
Here's the excellent video report from @VishnuNDTV on what transpired.
Take this as establishment POV. This government is not going to be blackmailed into anything.
Visual confirmation that AIM-120C-5 AMRAAM (Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile) was used in aerial combat yesterday. Only F-16s in PAF inventory fires this missile.
Closer look at the debris:
This is what the missile actually looks like. Second picture shows AMRAAM missiles mounted on wing-tip pylons of USAF F-16. Third - fully loaded Pakistan Air Force (PAF) F-16 with wingtip mounted AMRAAM missile.s
Mig-21 Bison shooting down F-16D - this is THE news.
It has to be first such incident in the aviation world.
The much vaunted F-16 'Viper' or 'Fighting Falcon' of PAF has been shot down by a generation older aircraft.
Tells you about Mig-21 Bison and IAF fighter pilot training
It has to be first such incident in the aviation world.
The much vaunted F-16 'Viper' or 'Fighting Falcon' of PAF has been shot down by a generation older aircraft.
Tells you about Mig-21 Bison and IAF fighter pilot training
If one searches for [Contract FA8675-05-C-0070] written on the missile on internet, we find that the following:
- Contract was awarded in November 2006 to Rathyeon Missile Systems for 500 AIM-120C5 AMRAAM Missiles.
- To be completed by April 2011. (see attached image)
- Contract was awarded in November 2006 to Rathyeon Missile Systems for 500 AIM-120C5 AMRAAM Missiles.
- To be completed by April 2011. (see attached image)
