We, the 'many', need always appreciate 'the few, the brave':
Their sacrifice ensures that the flag shall always wave!
(Fm the poem 'The Few, The Brave' by Maurice Harris)
Thread on the @IAF_MCC 'Ironman' formation vs the PAF JF-17s during #OpSwiftRetort on #27Feb19
Their sacrifice ensures that the flag shall always wave!
(Fm the poem 'The Few, The Brave' by Maurice Harris)
Thread on the @IAF_MCC 'Ironman' formation vs the PAF JF-17s during #OpSwiftRetort on #27Feb19
On #27Feb2019, while ‘Avenger’ was clashing with the PAF F-16s over Nowshera, 2 x M2000Is of No1 Sqn IAF C/S ‘Ironman’ were battling upto 12 x JF-17s of CCS/No14 Sqn PAF abeam Muzaffrabad in North J&K 1/n
Eqpd with the RDY3 and the Mica combination, the IAF Mirages were the most dangerous adversaries for the PAF that day, with the PAF F-16s over Nowshera vary of engaging the Mirages instead of the Sukhois. This job was given to PAF Thunders who were meant to take on the M2Ks 2/n
The engagement between the JF-17s and the Mirages was probably a first in the world - where Chinese made aircraft were facing off with western made platforms in an air operation. The JF-17s from 14 Sqn were of the Block II variety with improved avionics and SD-10 BVRs 3/n
It was a marathon engagement (0945 - 1030h) for the determined M2000 pilots who deployed aggressive BVR tactics to take on layered JF-17s attempting to push towards the Loc. The Thunders focussed on separating the 2 M2Ks into kill zones near the LoC 4/n
It is to the credit of the ‘Tigers’ that the CCS/ 14 Sqn ac cud never threaten them, with the young IAF M2K pilots never falling for the shooter/drags deployed by the Thunders. On the contrary, the Thunders kept themselves extra safe from the perceived reach of the Mica AAM. 5/n
The 2 Mirages distinguished themselves well and ended up dominating the LoC. They maintained superb fire discipline, never ‘wasting’ any AAM during that hour of crisis, conserving their firepower to counter any PAF dash across the LoC.
While the Pakistani propaganda machine has hyped accomplishment of the PAF Viper pilots during #OpSwiftRetort to a larger than life visage, none in the Pak public have asked for an audit of the ordinary performance of the Thunders engaged against the M2000s in North J&K 7/n
All thu #OpSwiftRetort, the #PAF which prides itself in its aggression & dynamic readjustment in combat; relied totally on local numerical superiority to push towards the LoC. Self preservation seemed a priority, perhaps in anticipation of an all out war post #27Feb2019 8/n
On the contrary, the determination & aggression displayed by IAF’s Avenger, Ironman & Alpha (No 51 Sqn IAF) formations - 8 #IAF DCA vs 24 #PAF OCA - reflects the grit & gall amongst IAF #fighterpilots; especially on a day whn not everything necessarily went right for the IAF
9/9
9/9
Incidentally the #Mirage2000, which bombed #Balakot a day earlier on #26Feb2019; has been involved in every air operation of @IAF_MCC since its induction in 1985. That it is the goto workhorse of the IAF, speaks of the top rate standards set by #Battleaxes #Tigers #Wolfpack Sqns
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