Pakistan – India : Largest Air Battle of the 21st Century

India and Pakistan engaged in the largest air battle of the 21st century on the night of May 6-7, 2025, over the Line of Control in Kashmir. This unprecedented conflict involved at least 125 fighter jets.

The hostilities were ignited by India’s Operation Sindoor, targeting what it identified as terrorist bases within Pakistan. In the ensuing clashes, Pakistan claimed to have downed five Indian aircraft, including three Rafale jets, one Mirage 2000, one MiG-29, and one Su-30MKI. India acknowledged the loss of three of its fighters in Jammu and Kashmir but refrained from detailing the circumstances surrounding their downing. This incident marks a significant turning point in the already fraught relations between the two nuclear-armed nations.

Fighting started after India launched strikes on nine targets in both Pakistan and Pakistani-administered Kashmir. India accused these locations of harboring links to terrorist groups responsible for the deadly bombing in Pahalgam on April 22, which claimed the lives of 26 tourists. In response, Pakistan mounted a substantial air and air defense operation, asserting that it was acting in self-defense. Both nations engaged in combat without breaching each other’s airspace, utilizing long-range missiles such as the Chinese PL-X, which was reportedly used to down one of the Indian Rafales.

Pakistani military spokesman Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry characterized the actions as necessary defensive measures, further stating that an Israeli Heron drone had also been downed during the skirmishes.

Indian officials hailed Operation Sindoor as a success, claiming that their strikes effectively targeted militant training camps. However, the loss of high-value aircraft, particularly the three Rafales, represents a significant blow to the prestige of the Indian Air Force.