Posted on 02/27/2019 5:25:10 AM PST by Freeport
India's foreign ministry has confirmed that one of its air force's Mikoyan MiG-21 fighters has been shot down amid escalating tensions with its neighbour, Pakistan.
In a televised statement, a foreign ministry official said Pakistan had launched an incursion into Indian airspace "targeting military installations" in the disputed region of Kashmir on 27 February.
"But due to our high state of readiness and alertness, Pakistan's attempts were foiled successfully. The Pakistan air force was detected and the Indian air force responded immediately."
During the aerial engagement that followed, one aircraft from each side was shot down, the official says.
"The Pakistani aircraft was seen by ground forces falling from the sky on the Pakistan side [of the border]," he says.
Pakistan claims to have captured the Indian pilot – identified on social media as Wing Commander Abhi Nandan – and to have also shot down another aircraft.
New Delhi is "still ascertaining the facts" in the case, the foreign ministry official says.
Islamabad's action was a retaliation for air strikes conducted the previous day by India against alleged militant training camps on the Pakistani side of the border.
(Excerpt) Read more at flightglobal.com ...
From their museum?
I heard of two Indian Migs or Mirages shotdown. And India claimed F-16 shotdown by Mig. Pakis said has pilots in custody.
These two are my biggest fear of nuclear confrontation. Both armed. Both quite capable. I especially fear Pakistan. The same folks who allowed OBL to live in their country.
Was Tom Cruise in any of the jets?
These two countries seem to have some sort of skirmish on a semi regular basis.
I guess one day one of them will spiral out of control.
Hard to tell which one and when.
I think you are fully justified in your concern. I have the same concerns.
“This is not going to end well.”
Considering the history of Indian-Pakistani relations since they separated from each other, it is not going to end at all.
Mig 21 has been around since the 50s. Surprised India using it for frontline aircraft.
Use assets that they can easily absorb the loss? Save the “good stuff” in case the conflict escalates?
I hope they both realize that they will get nothing out of it other than Chinese occupation.
It’s probably already pretty close to over.
That stretches credibility.
Yeah, my reaction was, oh heck! A MiG-21? They’re expendable. Like bullets.
And a Glock they lost a Glock.
Both sides will vent their spleen with this dust up but that is far as it will go. India realizes it has the forces to conquer Kashmir but that would humiliate and make desperate a nuclear armed Pakistan. After three or four weeks of clashes, it will calm down. There will be no attempt by India to take Kashmir with a large conventional force.
Like a strike reduces internal labor pressure, Kashmir acts as a popoff valve for the india/pakistan pressures
MIG-21? They still make parts for that thing?
Not fun having Muslim neighbors.
Both sides use MiG-21 variants.
Data from Wiki—
The Pakistanis have the below combat aircraft, most of which can be directed toward India:
90 Mirage 5
90 Mirage III
139 Chengdu J-7 (Chinese Mig 21 Copy)
100 JF-17 Thunder
45 F-16 Fighting Falcon
The Indians have the following combat aircraft, but have to watch the Chinese as well:
230 Su-30
69 MiG-29
57 Mirage 2000
139 SEPECAT Jaguar
85 MiG-27
125 MiG-21
Now if only Russia and China had another border skirmish.
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