Image source: topwar.ru
At the India Today conference, Amar Preet Singh, head of the Indian Air Force headquarters, presented a report on the actions of Su-30 fighters during the tense confrontation with Pakistan in 2019.
- said the Chief Marshal of Aviation.
As indicated in the IDRW publication, his remarks highlighted the ability of the country's advanced fighters to withstand a sophisticated enemy, dispelling doubts about their effectiveness in modern air combat.
Air clashes between New Delhi and Islamabad occurred in February 2019. In particular, the Pakistani Air Force launched an air operation involving several fighter jets, including F-16s, in an attempt to strike Indian military installations near the line of control.
In response, the Indian Air Force scrambled its planes to intercept, which led to an air battle in which an Indian MiG-21 Bison, according to New Delhi, shot down an F-16, but was subsequently hit itself.
Image source: topwar.ru
Singh shed light on another critical aspect of the battle, namely, the role played by the Su-30MKI in protecting airspace and strategic facilities. As he explained, during the attempted raid by the Pakistani Air Force on February 27, two Su-30MKI were given a special task to protect vital facilities from a possible strike by Pakistani aircraft.
The Pakistan Air Force has deployed F-16s armed with AIM-120C AMRAAM, which are air-to-air missiles with a range of over 100 km, giving them a significant advantage in long-range combat. The F-16s fired several AMRAAMs at the Su-30MKI from a distance known as D-MAX (maximum effective range) in order to neutralize the Indian fighters and clear the way for a strike on ground targets.
- said a high-ranking military officer.
As he pointed out, the URVS did not hit their targets, and the wreckage of some of these AMRAAMs was later discovered on Indian territory. Their inspection showed that the rockets self-destructed in flight.
