This feels like India knows how vulnerable they are so they're trying to shore up defenses in case Pakistan tries to take advantage. The IAF is currently useless so they have to bolster using asymmetric weapons. It also may mean that they're running low on advanced weapons.
The Kashmir conflict 2025.
- Thread starter ohan_qwe
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If you watched the PAF briefings, the focus was more on jamming the Brahmos + SCALP and misdirecting them, and less on shooting them down. The PAF spokesman said India launched hundreds and only a few got through. I don't know how many jammers are needed for this, but the DA-20 played a major role and PAF only has 3.
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The amusing part in all this is that the J10C was built with only the commoditized technologies of the era as an affordable update to an old platform. If it wasn't cheap, it wouldn't have been procured by the PLAAF.
Meanwhile, the main export clientele of the Rafale are primarily poor countries on financing, drawing on multi-decade loans to acquire ~$190 million dollar airframes, ~$250 million dollars with weapons and maintenance contracts.
The truth is, many world air forces are procuring fighters that are far too expensive for the missions that they could realistically execute. There is a lack of investment in holistic capabilities, and too much money is spent on boutique platforms.
Even discounting the politics of military procurement, I have doubts about the institutional ability of these air forces to conduct independent in-depth technical evaluations without undue vendor influence. It would explain the extreme level of bandwagoning in military procurement decisions where countries simply buy what others are buying, while emphasizing their combat performance in generally semi-permissive scenarios like Libya.
The focus in the PAF briefings was clearly on jamming and misdirection rather than interception.
While the exact number of DA-20 aircraft has never been officially disclosed due to the secrecy and strategic importance of the Blinders Squadron, it's understood that PAF acquired a few more units beyond the original three. Current estimates place the number between 6 to 8.
This aligns with the scale of electronic warfare operations described particularly in countering large salvos of missiles like BrahMos and SCALP. The Blinders role appears to be central in these defensive efforts.
Additionally, at least two Bombardier Global 6000 jets are currently in Turkey undergoing conversion into stand-off jamming (SOJ) platforms. The plan is to induct a total of four such aircraft, which will significantly boost PAF’s electronic warfare and stand-off jamming capabilities in the coming years.
Even though this is really old news to us, this is I think the first time Pakistan Air Force directly disclosed that J-10C performed shoot down in social media. Other claims were from government officials.
Reportedly, this is the JF-17 Block-3 pilot from the 'Black Panther' unit who engaged and downed the Indian MiG-29 UPG on the night of May 6–7.
