IAF has confirmed that Abhi hit an F-16. Has submitted proof to Gov. No reason to doubt that. That is something that PAF has to be ashamed about.Y. Kanan wrote:
Thank you for the clarification. So, it seems most likely that an F-16 was not, in fact, shot down. Which shouldn't be surprising, and certainly nothing to be ashamed about. The whole point of the PAF attack was to draw our planes into an ambush; whatever aircraft Varthaman was chasing would have been running away at high speed, already had a big head start, and was no doubt employing countermeasures. A hit under those conditions would have been very lucky.
Very Very clear that IAF was not ambushed. Please to note that PAF mission was a failure. Every one including PAF have ascertained that nothing of value was hit. M21 was only shot down (lets assume UBCN is selling poison gas) because it put it self on the line and wacked an F-16. Pilot made the call for the exchange and it was willful, not because of the skill of PAF.Y. Kanan wrote:The IAF has no doubt learned their lesson and will not be ambushed in this way again. I think we came off second-best in this little exchange, but only because the enemy was given the initiative and allowed to attack at a time and place of their own choosing. The lesson is next time we hit a camp or something, we should followup with non-stop BVR attacks on anything that moves in Paki airspace along the border. We don't let them hit us back without being under fire the entire time.
IAF already had an effective CAP on, at least 2 MKIs and 2 Mirages (I am sure that fighters from other sectors were not vectored in here to present gaps). They were able to sense the PAF build up (all sources say this) and were able to rally an effective deterrent force. This is not a number game as per IAF, its not important that we had only half the number. It is clear that even half the number spooked the PAF who did not dare come closer. They should be shivering as to how to BVRs were evaded. Remember we at least had 40 missiles in air and god knows how many SAMS on the ground. I think PAF did not just come off second best, they were completely routed, because 1. No military objectives were achieved (2) The complete game was controlled by IAF. We were in complete CONTROL. We knew who was coming, from where they were coming and had enough pieces in place to wall them out. Right from the time they took off, to the time they landed. Ever since we have spooked them enough, we forced them to shut down their air space for a long long time.
This exchange has provided a great amount of data for analysis on how future BVRs work. It can be deduced that unless that bogies are <30 kms (gas number), neither we can down them, nor they us. IAF has clarified that at 50 km standoff (again number is gas), we did not have firing solution. So your call for non-stop BVR is jingoistic at best. May be things change after meteor, but I am skeptical that it will change by very much. But right now we hold the aces. If I was PAF I would very much review the effectiveness of Air delivered NewClear Bums. Probably PAF would not be able to cross the LOC, or if glide bomb type, a 50-60 km range drop. Once S-400 enters the game their BMs would also be questionable. Well that is a different game.
With Abhi clearly disregarding ROE and restraint, and pulling off a Rajanikant-isk kick (ok he got shot so lets dial it down to Salman Khan-isk), has had the IAF probably scratching their heads on whether to reward him (and thus encourage further RoEs broken) or punish him (but he did shoot an F-16). They will have to give in and medal him but impart in all their trainings that RoE are not to be tampered with. He has created history with the first shoot out of an F-16 and that is something in itself. So to ppl who understand,its IAF 2 PAF 0. Using propaganda PAF has made it 1-1. IAF needs to get ahead in that game as well.