The LOC Air Battle on February 27th
Three matters are clear from this air battle - 1). Pakistan came to equalize the Balkote score but failed, 2). F-16s were used, but these stayed on their sides and used long range AMRAAM missiles to blast down a SU-30mk1 but failed again, 3). The Pakistani fighters a whole cluster of them could shoot only a lonely MIG-21, which strayed on their side of the LOC. In the process lost a F-16.
Pakistan should be screaming that they could not achieve any of the objectives in this air action. They did shoot their Denel built glide bombs, but from too far, hence the bomb did hit its intended location, but accuracy was so horrendous that it fell a thousand meters away. That is the danger in shooting glide bombs from that far away that the accuracy goes to hell. Moreover, atmospheric conditions do impact the flight of the bomb. A small change would make a huge difference and the bomb may not reach the intended target. That is what happened in the case of hitting the Nowshera brigade headquarters.
A clever trick was played by the PAF to snare the Su-30Mk1 into the fight. The latter had to remain out of range of 100 km beyond visual range US made AMRAAM missiles loaded on F-16 planes. To goad the Indian SU-30s into action, they fired a few AMRAAM missiles at them, which the clever Indian pilots avoided with Chaffe and blocking them completely. The missiles ran out of fuel and fell to the earth, which the Indian Army picked them up and made an issue with the Americans. This was an expensive trial for PAF as each missile costs $3 million. Their denials were of no avail, as India had the evidence to show it.
There were 24 Pakistani fighters which came for a combat. This is a large armada and I would understand that they came for a big score but failed. They relied on too much on technology to do the job without crossing the LOC. They let the bombs from too far and these fell inaccurately. Had they come a bit closer, the results would be different. Besides, they let their AMRAAM missiles a bit early, without a clear radar lock on the target hence these were ineffective. In the process another Indian MIG-21 gave a chase and had a lock on F-16 and fired. In the target chase, he lost his bearing and crossed the LOC. Now he lost all his communications and became an easy target for a Pakistani fighter. The Russian short range Russian missile brought the F-16 down, but he himself became the hunted. He was quickly shot down.
In those five minutes of melee, three parachutes opened, although the Pakistanis deny it but is their usual habit. Two parachutes were Pakistanis and one was Indian. By all accounts you can infer that the F-16 was a trainer. The fate of the one Pakistani pilot was sealed by the villagers in the area. He died at their hands. The Indian pilot pilot was about to suffer the same fate, but his action to ward off the villagers in commendable.
This battle lowered the Pakistani morale and they were prepared to de-escalate very quickly.
Three matters are clear from this air battle - 1). Pakistan came to equalize the Balkote score but failed, 2). F-16s were used, but these stayed on their sides and used long range AMRAAM missiles to blast down a SU-30mk1 but failed again, 3). The Pakistani fighters a whole cluster of them could shoot only a lonely MIG-21, which strayed on their side of the LOC. In the process lost a F-16.
Pakistan should be screaming that they could not achieve any of the objectives in this air action. They did shoot their Denel built glide bombs, but from too far, hence the bomb did hit its intended location, but accuracy was so horrendous that it fell a thousand meters away. That is the danger in shooting glide bombs from that far away that the accuracy goes to hell. Moreover, atmospheric conditions do impact the flight of the bomb. A small change would make a huge difference and the bomb may not reach the intended target. That is what happened in the case of hitting the Nowshera brigade headquarters.
A clever trick was played by the PAF to snare the Su-30Mk1 into the fight. The latter had to remain out of range of 100 km beyond visual range US made AMRAAM missiles loaded on F-16 planes. To goad the Indian SU-30s into action, they fired a few AMRAAM missiles at them, which the clever Indian pilots avoided with Chaffe and blocking them completely. The missiles ran out of fuel and fell to the earth, which the Indian Army picked them up and made an issue with the Americans. This was an expensive trial for PAF as each missile costs $3 million. Their denials were of no avail, as India had the evidence to show it.
There were 24 Pakistani fighters which came for a combat. This is a large armada and I would understand that they came for a big score but failed. They relied on too much on technology to do the job without crossing the LOC. They let the bombs from too far and these fell inaccurately. Had they come a bit closer, the results would be different. Besides, they let their AMRAAM missiles a bit early, without a clear radar lock on the target hence these were ineffective. In the process another Indian MIG-21 gave a chase and had a lock on F-16 and fired. In the target chase, he lost his bearing and crossed the LOC. Now he lost all his communications and became an easy target for a Pakistani fighter. The Russian short range Russian missile brought the F-16 down, but he himself became the hunted. He was quickly shot down.
In those five minutes of melee, three parachutes opened, although the Pakistanis deny it but is their usual habit. Two parachutes were Pakistanis and one was Indian. By all accounts you can infer that the F-16 was a trainer. The fate of the one Pakistani pilot was sealed by the villagers in the area. He died at their hands. The Indian pilot pilot was about to suffer the same fate, but his action to ward off the villagers in commendable.
This battle lowered the Pakistani morale and they were prepared to de-escalate very quickly.
