New Delhi: The Indian Air Force said on Monday that it had credible evidence clearly indicating that Pakistan Air Force lost one F-16 in the dogfight on February 27.
“There is no doubt that two aircraft went down in the aerial engagement on February 27. One of the two was a Bison of IAF while the other was a F-16 of PAF conclusively identified by its signature and radio transcripts,” said Air Vice- Marshal R.G.K. Kapoor, assistant chief of air staff (operations).
During the media briefing at the defence ministry, he showed radar images of the engagement where in one picture MiG 21 Bison and F16s could be seen.
Second slide shows Pak’s fighter jet disappeared
In the second slide captured after a few seconds, the targeted F16 had disappeared from the screen but MiG21 could still be seen.
“The F-16 crashed and fell across the LoC in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir,” said Air Vice Marshal Kapoor.
Radar picture shows Pakistan’s F16 has vanished and MiG21 Bison still can be seen on the radar.
The Air Vice Marshal said that due to security and confidentiality concerns “we are restricting the information being shared in the public domain.”
He said that two aircraft had gone down on that day in the same area separated by around 1 to 1:30 minutes.
Indian Army posts in the vicinity of the LoC in Jhangar sector have visually sighted two separate parachutes.
“The first sighting was in West, in general area Sabzkot and the second was after a few minutes in Southwest general area Tandar,” he said
On February 27, IAF’s MiG 21 Bison piloted by Wing Commander Abhi-nandan Varthaman had chased and shot down one of the F16 which had fallen into Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK). During the chase Wg Cdr Varth-aman MiG21 has also got hit and he had to eject in PoK.
“Analysis of electronic emissions have shown that the aircraft picked up by the intercepts from Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) and radio transcripts indicated F-16s in the area directly in front of Wg Cdr Abhinandan’s aircraft,” he said.
He said the Pakistan Air Force fired multiple AMRAAM missiles which were defeated by use of counter measures and tactical maneuvers.
The Air Vice Marshal said that Indian Air Force achieved its objectives of a successfully striking the terrorist camp at Balakot and thwarting the PAF attack against “our military installations.”
PAF was unable to achieve its military objectives,” he said.
