The IAF on Monday reiterated that it had shot down a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) F-16 on February 27 during an aerial duel in Naushera Sector and said it has more credible radar evidence that is clearly indicative of the fact that Pakistan had lost one F-16 that day. “However, due to security and confidentiality concerns, we are restricting the information being shared in the public domain,” the IAF said.
This assertion here by Air Vice Marshal RG Kapoor, assistant chief of operations and space, came three days after the IAF held an off-the-camera briefing to negate some US reports claiming all the F-16s of Pakistan were accounted for and the Indian version of shooting down a F-16 was not correct.
Sharing some slides and maps for reference, Kapoor said the PAF aircraft had fired multiple AMRAAM missiles and the IAF had used counter measures and tactical manoeuvres. In the aerial combat that ensued, Varthaman flying Mig-21 shot down F-16. As shown in the radar images, the F-16 crashed and fell across the Line of Control (LoC) in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK), he said.
“There is no doubt that two aircraft went down in the aerial engagement on February 27, one was the Bison (MiG 21) of the IAF and the other was a F-16 of PAF, conclusively identified by its electronic signature and radio transcripts,” said the Air Vice Marshal.