EurAsian Times: Pakistani JF-17 pilot talks about "meeting" with Su-30MKI of the Indian Air Force in 2019

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The Indian Air Force (IAF) and Pakistani Air Force (PAF) aerial combat, which took place in the Kashmir skies several years ago, continues to intrigue military experts. The Indian edition of the EurAsian Times wrote about this incident on April 4, 2021, referring, among other things, to the story of the Pakistani pilot.

On February 26, 2019, the IAF bombed a terrorist camp in Balakot (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan). The next day, Islamabad sent 24 fighters to the region, including JF-17. Pakistani aircraft crossed the Line of Control (LoC), which is the de facto border between countries, and fired high-precision glide bombs at Indian military targets in the Rajuri sector of Jammu and Kashmir province.



The IAF flew eight fighters, including two Russian-made Su-30MKIs, to intercept PAF jets that were rapidly retreating to Pakistan-controlled Kashmir. As Indian aircraft approached, Pakistani F-16s fired US-made AIM-120 C5 medium-range air-to-air missiles at them.

Two Su-30MKIs were within the range of these missiles (105 km), but managed to dodge them elegantly. However, they were unable to hit the enemy with Russian R-77 missiles. The thing is that the original R-77 missiles fly 110 km, and the export version - 80 km. This is what saved the Pakistani pilots.

During the battle, one Indian MiG-21 "Bizon" was shot down, and its pilot was captured. PAF informed the public that the IAF aircraft was shot down by a Sino-Pakistani-made JF-17 fighter, which has proven its effectiveness as a competitor to the export F-16, Saab Gripen and MiG-29.

In turn, New Delhi reported that one American-made Pakistani F-16 was shot down. This indicates that the "meeting" of the parties ended in a draw.

According to the JF-17 pilot, who took part in the air battle on February 27, the aircraft carried out radar capture of the Su-30MKI at a distance of more than 100 km. His plane was armed with Chinese PL-12 missiles with a range of 70 km.

According to experts, the main disadvantage of the single-engine JF-17 is its limited armament, as it can only carry four missiles. Indian twin-engine Su-30MKIs are armed with eight or even more missiles, the media summed up.
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  1. Alexander K_2
    Alexander K_2
    -1
    April 4 2021 20: 01
    So what happened to the article that a rocket with a flight range of 70 km. fired at the SS flying at a distance of 100 km from which Su managed to dodge with an energetic maneuver? Oh how !!!
    1. chemurij
      chemurij
      +2
      April 4 2021 22: 55
      Quote: Alexander K_2
      that a missile with a flight range of 70 km

      In fact, the range of the AIM-120 C5 missile is one hundred (100) kilometers, this situation with a head-on course is quite plausible.

      As Indian aircraft approached, Pakistani F-16s fired US-made AIM-120 C5 medium-range air-to-air missiles at them.
      Two Su-30MKIs were within the range of these missiles (105 km), but managed to dodge them elegantly.
    2. bonifacius
      bonifacius
      +2
      April 5 2021 00: 07
      It probably makes sense for you to read the article one more time.
      1. chemurij
        chemurij
        +2
        April 5 2021 12: 03
        Quote: bonifacius
        It probably makes sense for you to read the article one more time.

        If you tell me about it

        According to the JF-17 pilot, who took part in the air battle on February 27, the aircraft carried out radar capture of the Su-30MKI at a distance of more than 100 km. His plane was armed with Chinese PL-12 missiles with a range of 70 km.

        Then I fully admit such actions of the Pakistani pilot, who carried his feet to Pakistani territory and deliberately fired a deliberately useless salvo of missiles in order to gain time by diverting the SU-30MKI to anti-missile maneuvers.
  2. zzdimk
    zzdimk
    +1
    April 5 2021 00: 22
    the main disadvantage of the single-engine JF-17 is its limited armament,

    is this the point of the article?
  3. Segaga
    Segaga
    0
    April 5 2021 06: 23
    About nothing ....
  4. Herman 4223
    Herman 4223
    +1
    April 5 2021 09: 23
    R-77 has different modifications and different launch ranges. At the maximum range of the R-77 and the AIM-120 can be launched only under certain conditions, this is the maximum altitude and speed during launch. To hit the target at a distance of 100 km, Pakistani aircraft were physically unable to. If the pilots did not know this, then this is some kind of incident during their training.
  5. Senikza
    Senikza
    0
    April 5 2021 13: 04
    The launch range of 100 km is a completely ephemeral value, which is suitable against a blind plane flying in a completely straight forward direction. The rocket engine works for a short time, accelerating it to 3-4 thousand km per hour, then it flies by inertia. As soon as the plane makes a smooth snake, the rocket will have to turn strongly, it also needs to take a lead, while it suddenly loses energy and simply falls. And if the plane, with a sufficient distance, turns to a reverse course with maneuvers, then the probability of defeat tends to zero. And then there are traps and jamming. A real battle at a distance of 20-30 km, well, maybe 40.
  6. gorenina91
    gorenina91
    -1
    April 5 2021 16: 51
    During the battle, one Indian MiG-21 "Bizon" was shot down, and its pilot was captured. PAF informed the public that the IAF aircraft was shot down by a Sino-Pakistani-made JF-17 fighter, which has proven its effectiveness as a competitor to the export F-16, Saab Gripen and MiG-29.

    - Everything is clear and understandable ... - The Chinese JF-17 easily shot down our super high-speed (albeit very outdated) MiG-21; which (this is for the MiG-21) and the ceiling is higher and the maximum speed at an altitude is greater than that of the JF-17 ... - and the armament (in any case ... - the number of missiles) is the same ...

    New Delhi reported that one American-made Pakistani F-16 was shot down. This indicates that the "meeting" of the parties ended in a draw.

    - Who shot it down ??? - MiG-21 ??? - Or the Su-30MKI, which did nothing but "dodge elegantly" ??? - It turns out that you can shoot down F-16s with "elegant dodging" too .... - Or the F-16 was shot down by decrepit Mirages (the Indians also have Mirages in their arsenal) ...
  7. Mephisto
    Mephisto
    0
    5 June 2021 14: 44
    However, they were unable to hit the enemy with Russian R-77 missiles.

    Everything is plus or minus. After the onboard equipment of the aircraft has identified and determined the target, target designation is transmitted to the missile homing head and only after the missile seeker has confirmed on the panel to the pilot that the target is locked, he can press the start button. So ... depending on many factors, including weather, the missile seeker can capture the target further than 80 km .. and given the fact that at cruising speed the Su-30 flies 20 km in 1.5 minutes, we can assume that distance is not the main reason that the F-16 remained unharmed. ...