Lots of interesting details in the VC citation of WC Abhinandan. Do read carefully.
He thwarted a second wave of ground strike package with his surprising aggressive maneuvering which the PAF did not anticipate it seems. They ran away without offloading their weapons, while the
He thwarted a second wave of ground strike package with his surprising aggressive maneuvering which the PAF did not anticipate it seems. They ran away without offloading their weapons, while the
first Strike package was disrupted from completing their bombing run (which is also evident from their PGMs falling way off the intended targets).
Also, the citation indicates there was a low flying PAF formation (likely F16) hiding from the Indian AD radars and ready to ambush
Also, the citation indicates there was a low flying PAF formation (likely F16) hiding from the Indian AD radars and ready to ambush
Any IAF interceptors vectored towards the very visible, second formation flying at high alti. WC Abhi, with his presence of mind and probably anticipating exactly such tactics by PAF, scanned low altitudes with own Radar and exposed the ambush threat, alerted other IAF jets too.
I am guessing, PAF tactics was to lure IAF interceptors towards the high alti formation acting as a decoy, while there was a low flying formation hiding from the Indian Radars, ready to ambush IAF interceptors. All this to keep IAF busy away north while the Strike package could
Hit the Indian Army Brigade HQ in Rajouri. There were separate formations southwards as well to keep the Su30MKI and the M2K on CAP engaged, going by various #OSINT analyses. By all accounts, PAF was quite wary of the Su30MKI and M2K & did not want them nearby at any cost.
The alertness, presence of minds and exceptional bravery displayed by the IAF warriors, notably SqL Minty Agrawal, WC Abhi, the Avengers formation twarted a large strike package by PAF without a single successful strike on Indian Soil.
