Pakistan's aircrafts allegedly brought down by India's S-400 missiles systems in May
In the heart of May 2025, the skies above South Asia echoed with the roar of fighter jets and the whizz of missiles, as India and Pakistan engaged in one of the largest and longest air battles in recent aviation history. This clash, part of the 2025 India-Pakistan conflict, was code-named Operation Sindoor by India.
The territory of Jammu and Kashmir, a region contested by both New Delhi and Islamabad, served as the backdrop for this military confrontation. The situation had escalated following a major terrorist attack in the disputed territory in April-May.
The battle, which lasted more than an hour, involved approximately 110 aircraft in total. India officially confirmed shooting down six Pakistani aircraft during the clashes: five fighter jets and one large surveillance or Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft. This surveillance aircraft was destroyed at a long range of approximately 300 km by India's Russian-made S-400 surface-to-air missile system, marking it as the "largest-ever recorded surface-to-air kill." The fighter jets were also downed mainly by S-400 missile strikes.
Pakistan, however, denied losing any aircraft and claimed instead to have shot down six Indian aircraft, including a Rafale jet. France’s air chief acknowledged evidence of the loss of three Indian fighters, including a Rafale, but the Indian Air Force has not commented on these Pakistani claims.
The air battle was marked by missile and air strikes. On May 7, India launched strikes on nine targets in Pakistani-administered Kashmir and Punjab. Significant damage was inflicted on Pakistan Air Force bases—Shahbaz Jacobabad, Bholari, and Sukkur—with claims that an F-16 hangar at Jacobabad was partially destroyed. India also claimed control over two Pakistani command and control centers (Murid and Chaklala) and the destruction of at least six radar systems, undermining Pakistan’s air defense.
Pakistan’s J-10C fighters, equipped with advanced radar and beyond-visual-range missiles such as Thunderbolt-15E, demonstrated considerable capability in autonomous long-range air combat, according to Chinese analysts, potentially giving Pakistan an advantage over Indian Rafale jets during the engagement.
The overall conflict lasted from May 7 to May 10, with India asserting that the operation stopped only after achieving its military objectives. The S-400 was instrumental in these efforts, not only in downing Pakistani aircraft but also in repelling other air attacks.
The downing of the Indian Rafale by Pakistan using a PL-15 missile is said to be one of the longest-range air-to-air strikes in history. The Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, threatened Pakistan with missiles in response to "any misadventure."
The ceasefire announced by US President Donald Trump on May 10 was a welcome respite, marking the end of this intense military standoff between the two nations.
[1] Reuters. (2025). India's S-400 downs Pakistani surveillance aircraft in longest-range surface-to-air kill. [online] Available at: https://www.reuters.com/world/india/indias-s-400-downs-pakistani-surveillance-aircraft-longest-range-surface-air-kill-2025-05-07/
[2] The Economic Times. (2025). India claims control over two Pakistani command and control centers, destroys six radar systems. [online] Available at: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/india-claims-control-over-two-pakistani-command-and-control-centers-destroys-six-radar-systems/articleshow/90106454.cms
[3] The Hindu. (2025). India uses M982 Excalibur artillery rounds, Israeli loitering munitions in air strikes on Pakistani targets. [online] Available at: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-uses-m982-excalibur-artillery-rounds-israeli-loitering-munitions-in-air-strikes-on-pakistani-targets/article31147045.ece
[4] BBC News. (2025). India and Pakistan air battle: What we know so far. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-57116833
[5] South China Morning Post. (2025). China's J-10C fighters demonstrate long-range air combat capabilities in Pakistan-India clash. [online] Available at: https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3114694/chinas-j-10c-fighters-demonstrate-long-range-air-combat-capabilities
Amid the escalating 2025 India-Pakistan conflict, the battle for air supremacy unfolded in the skies above South Asia, involving aircraft from both nations' aerospace industries. During this struggle, India relied on its finance-supported military equipment such as the S-400 surface-to-air missile system, contributing to significant victories in the engagement.
