The recent Indo-Pakistan military confrontation between 6 and 10 May saw the most extensive aerial combat between the two nuclear powers of South Asia since 1971. The eruption of hostilities was the most serious escalation between India and Pakistan since the Kargil War in 1999. At least 41 casualties were reported after four days of fighting.
India sought to retaliate for the 22 April Pahalgam attack which killed 26 civilians in Indian-administered Kashmir. The dramatic escalation took place as India launched Operation Sindoor which targeted nine sites inside Pakistan and Pakistani-administered Kashmir. India claims to have targeted terrorist infrastructure linked to the Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba, but evidence on the ground pointed to the destruction of mosques in Indian airstrikes.
Pakistan's retaliatory strikes, which were dubbed Operation Bunyan Ul Marsoos, saw drone attacks and airstrikes on 26 Indian military facilities. The Indian counter-response targeted 11 Pakistani air bases. A ceasefire was brokered and announced by U.S. President Donald Trump after reports of potential nuclear deployment, including the convening of Pakistan's National Command Authority which was later denied by Islamabad. Some reports indicate that India's airstrikes in Pakistan hit a highly sensitive strategic facility at the Nur Khan Air Base near Rawalpindi.
It was the most geographically extensive combat between India and Pakistan since 1971. Military infrastructure on both sides of the border were targeted by missiles, drones, airstrikes and artillery shelling in an area stretching from the mountains of Kashmir in the north to the Rann of Kutch in the south separating Sindh and Gujarat on the Arabian Sea. Blackouts and air raid sirens were reported in many cities across western India and eastern Pakistan.
By some accounts, the largest aerial dogfight since World War II took place on May 6 and 7 as India and Pakistan mobilized more than 125 fighter jets in their own airspaces. These jets participated in an hour-long air battle that saw missiles fired across distances of 160 km. The fierce engagement resulted in the downing of several Indian aircraft, including at least one French-built Dassault Rafale which is the most advanced jet in the Indian Air Force. The Rafale was brought down by an air-to-air missile likely fired by a Chengdu J-10C Vigorous Dragon, which is a Chinese-built 4.5 generation fighter in the arsenal of the Pakistan Air Force. The PAF also deployed the JF-17 Block III, which is jointly produced by China and Pakistan.
While India has officially described the loss of aircraft as part and parcel of combat, the loss of the Rafale was confirmed by French and U.S. intelligence sources. Indian losses also reportedly include a Sukhoi Su-30, a MiG-29 and Mirage 2000H. Pakistan claims to have shot down five Indian fighter jets, including India's most advanced platforms. This would mark a significant milestone for Pakistan in terms of operational effectiveness and combat readiness.
Pakistan also deployed Turkish Bayraktar drones while India fielded Israeli Harop drones. Drones were used to target military logistics bases across the Indo-Pakistan borderland. Air defense batteries were also fielded by both India and Pakistan to launch surface-to-air and surface-to surface-missiles. Indian naval assets were deployed in the Arabian Sea near Pakistan's coastline.
The four-day conflict saw the first combat debut of the Chinese fighter J-10C Vigorous Dragon, which proved to be highly successful with the shooting down of Indian aircraft. Shares of the J-10's manufacturer, Chengdu Aircraft Corporation, surged by 40% in the Chinese stock market as reports trickled in of the jet's resounding success. Pakistan is reported to have used the Chinese PL-15E air-to-air missile to shoot down the Rafale. India's deployment featured the Brahmos supersonic missile jointly developed with Russia. Wreckage of the Brahmos was found within Indian territory, indicating that the missile failed to reach its target in Pakistan.
The key takeaway from the Indo-Pak conflict has been the success of Chinese aircraft and missiles, particularly the J-10C and PL-15E. There will be global scrutiny of the unprecedented aerial combat between India and Pakistan to prepare for potential future conflicts where Chinese equipment may have to face off with Western equipment.
Bangladesh's own strategic autonomy has seen its defense procurement policy rely on China for 80% of its military equipment, much like Pakistan which also sources 81% of its military hardware from China, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
Open source intelligence reports are indicating that Bangladesh is considering the J-10C Vigorous Dragon as a serious contender to replace the aging Mig-29 and Chengdu F7 fleets of the Bangladesh Air Force. Some reports indicate that Pakistan has also offered Bangladesh the JF-17 fighter. The JF-17 has already been inducted into the Myanmar Air Force.
Experts believe it is imperative to develop the air defense capability of Bangladesh to act as a deterrent. Dhaka has already inducted the Chinese HQ-7/FM-90 surface-to-air missile system into its air force. The Bangladesh Navy uses Chinese missiles onboard its frigates. There will be greater interest to induct advanced Chinese platforms after Pakistan's recent success.
Umran Chowdhury is Assistant Editor of the Dhaka Courier and Research Associate at the Cosmos Foundation and Bay of Bengal Institute.
