A dramatic aerial clash between India and Pakistan in May has revealed a surprising vulnerability in Western-made military hardware, as Pakistan successfully downed an Indian Rafale fighter jet using Chinese-made systems. The incident, sources say, hinged on an Indian intelligence failure regarding the capabilities of China’s PL-15 air-to-air missile.
The air battle, the largest in decades with an estimated 110 aircraft involved, was triggered by Indian airstrikes on Pakistani territory following a deadly attack in Indian Kashmir that New Delhi blamed on Islamabad. In response, Pakistan scrambled its J-10C fighter jets, equipped with PL-15 missiles, and targeted India’s premier Rafale jets.
According to officials from both sides and independent analysts, Pakistan’s successful hit on the Rafale—fired from roughly 200 km away, was among the longest-range air-to-air kills ever recorded. Indian intelligence had believed the PL-15’s effective range to be around 150 km, a miscalculation that gave Rafale pilots a false sense of safety.
Pakistani officials said the operation was backed by a “kill chain”, an advanced integration of radar, satellites, and surveillance aircraft using Data Link 17, a locally developed system that connected various platforms, including Chinese and Swedish equipment. This allowed J-10s to operate with their radars off while still tracking targets, maintaining the element of surprise.
India, which has not officially acknowledged the loss of a Rafale, has disputed some of the battle’s details, particularly the scale and effectiveness of Pakistan’s electronic warfare tactics. However, France’s air chief and a Dassault executive later confirmed the loss of one Rafale and two additional Indian jets during the skirmishes.
The incident has prompted a shift in global military interest, with countries like Indonesia reconsidering Rafale orders in favor of the J-10C—a potential windfall for China’s defense industry. Beijing, though quiet on its direct involvement, has praised Pakistan’s use of Chinese systems. Chinese air chief Lt. Gen. Wang Gang visited Pakistan in July to learn from the operation, underscoring China’s growing influence in regional air power dynamics.
India, meanwhile, has begun reassessing its tactics and modernizing systems, particularly those on its Russian-made Sukhoi jets, which were reportedly affected by Pakistani jamming efforts. Indian forces have since launched retaliatory strikes using BrahMos cruise missiles and carried out multiple attacks on Pakistani radar sites and air bases before a ceasefire was brokered on May 10.
Experts say the incident reflects not just a tactical success for Pakistan, but a broader lesson in the value of integrated information systems in modern warfare. “The winner in this was the side that had the best situational awareness,” said retired U.K. Air Marshal Greg Bagwell. “It wasn’t just about whose jet was better—it was about who saw first and fired first.”
Written By Rodney Mbua
