India Has Lost Air Superiority to Pakistan, No Jets Left to Fight

[Yasser76]

This would also show the role of the squadron and which weapon type will be fitted on the aircraft for that role.

I am not sure it goes into that much detail,, but the ORBAT section is very good too and they keep it very up to date. In my opinion it's the best open source site for air force fleet info

 

[Meengla]

Asking an AI engine this: "Did Pakistan shoot down an Indian fighter jet during the 1999 Kargil War?" should bring up two Indians jets were downed (both were MiG fighter jets). India conceded one shot down by Pakistan and one downed due to 'mechanical failure". One of the pilots was killed while another repatriated by Pakistan.

Over A quarter century ago India didn't have any 'air superiority' and now the Pakistan Air Force is better placed vs India. And yet for some Indians to be surprised by Pakistan shooting down Indian jets during the 2025 conflict is incredible.

 

[Yasser76]

Asking an AI engine this: "Did Pakistan shoot down an Indian fighter jet during the 1999 Kargil War?" should bring up two Indians jets were downed (both were MiG fighter jets). India conceded one shot down by Pakistan and one downed due to 'mechanical failure". One of the pilots was killed while another repatriated by Pakistan.

Over A quarter century ago India didn't have any 'air superiority' and now the Pakistan Air Force is better placed vs India. And yet for some Indians to be surprised by Pakistan shooting down Indian jets during the 2025 conflict is incredible.

Yup 1999, 2019, 2025. Total of around 12 Indian jets made into recycled dustbins. No loss for PAF.

Utter clown show.

 

[Be dazzled]

Meanwhile..

 

[Master Chief]

Asking an AI engine this: "Did Pakistan shoot down an Indian fighter jet during the 1999 Kargil War?" should bring up two Indians jets were downed (both were MiG fighter jets). India conceded one shot down by Pakistan and one downed due to 'mechanical failure". One of the pilots was killed while another repatriated by Pakistan.

Over A quarter century ago India didn't have any 'air superiority' and now the Pakistan Air Force is better placed vs India. And yet for some Indians to be surprised by Pakistan shooting down Indian jets during the 2025 conflict is incredible.

Indeed. And our resident Indian aviation experts assure us that the prevailing "rules of engagement" did not permit them to consider the possibility of aerial engagements.

 

[Corax]

Indeed. And our resident Indian aviation experts assure us that the prevailing "rules of engagement" did not permit them to consider the possibility of aerial engagements.

How dare the Pakistanis defend their homeland when the mighty Indian air force attacks their country, it's not fair saar!

This is nothing new though. Back in the early 2000s when Musharaf was on his charm tour in india, I remember an interviewer asking him that india could attack so called "terrorist" sites in Pakistan...Mushi just looked at him in disbelief and said "I wouldn't be worth my salt as a soldier if I didn't slap you back"... This is the deranged narcissistic mentality we're dealing with...you see the parjeets on here high on cow dung copium.

 

[Yasser76]

How dare the Pakistanis defend their homeland when the mighty Indian air force attacks their country, it's not fair saar!

This is nothing new though. Back in the early 2000s when Musharaf was on his charm tour in india, I remember an interviewer asking him that india could attack so called "terrorist" sites in Pakistan...Mushi just looked at him in disbelief and said "I wouldn't be worth my salt as a soldier if I didn't slap you back"... This is the deranged narcissistic mentality we're dealing with...you see the parjeets on here high on cow dung copium.

I think they really misunderstood Roosevelt's advice and got it mixed up.

They talk big and carry a soft stick.....

 

[Meengla]

India didn't have 'air superiority' even in 1999. That time, Pakistan's economy was much weaker and Pakistan's strategic ties with China were not as strong as they are now. And China itself has militarily advanced a lot since 1999.
Short of a catastrophic war or widespread sabotage which destroys the PAF, I only see the gap between the PAF and the IAF to widen. Indians seem incredibly incompetent in managing their military, which frankly surprises me (but doesn't disappoint me!) considering India's far better industrial and educational base, on top of India's much stable political environment for decades.

 

[Master Chief]

I think they really misunderstood Roosevelt's advice and got it mixed up.

They talk big and carry a soft stick.....

They also talk out of the same end that their stick is inserted.

 

[Corax]

India didn't have 'air superiority' even in 1999. That time, Pakistan's economy was much weaker and Pakistan's strategic ties with China were not as strong as they are now. And China itself has militarily advanced a lot since 1999.
Short of a catastrophic war or widespread sabotage which destroys the PAF, I only see the gap between the PAF and the IAF to widen. Indians seem incredibly incompetent in managing their military, which frankly surprises me (but doesn't disappoint me!) considering India's far better industrial and educational base, on top of India's much stable political environment for decades.

In 1999 we suffered a decade of sanctions by the US, our Viper fleet wasn't in good shape, and we had no bvr capability, while they did, hence the PAF kept a back seat. Air Commodore Kaiser Tufail describes in quite well. Despite that there occasions when vipers locked on to their Mig29s to keep them at bay.

 

[Yasser76]

India didn't have 'air superiority' even in 1999. That time, Pakistan's economy was much weaker and Pakistan's strategic ties with China were not as strong as they are now. And China itself has militarily advanced a lot since 1999.
Short of a catastrophic war or widespread sabotage which destroys the PAF, I only see the gap between the PAF and the IAF to widen. Indians seem incredibly incompetent in managing their military, which frankly surprises me (but doesn't disappoint me!) considering India's far better industrial and educational base, on top of India's much stable political environment for decades.

Naturally the Jeets are downplaying this, and it is stating a blindingly obvious fact.
Every year that passes without delivery of a new aircraft means that the IAF fleet average age gets higher and higher. Approx 30-35 years
Take out the 28 odd Rafales they have, you are looking at an average age of around 40-45 years old.

To give you an idea of other air forces

RAF = 14-15 years
USAF = 20-25 years
PAF = 20-22 years

Take out PAF Mirages and PAF fleet is around same as RAF (15 years)

Whats more, is the imminent induction of J-35 and removal of more Mirages, that compounds the situation.

 

[Meengla]

In 1999 we suffered a decade of sanctions by the US, our Viper fleet wasn't in good shape, and we had no bvr capability, while they did, hence the PAF kept a back seat. Air Commodore Kaiser Tufail describes in quite well. Despite that there occasions when vipers locked on to their Mig29s to keep them at bay.

Right. Thank you for the info.
American sanctions started shortly after the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan in 1989 and then came more sanctions after Pakistan tested its nukes in May 1998. Add to that, the Nawaz Sharif regime had brought Pakistan's economy to its knees by the time the Kargil War 1999 happened.
Today's Pakistan is much stronger than that in economy and in military terms, plus in terms of international allies. When was the last time the Indians brought up their hyped 'Cold Start' doctrine? During the May 2025 war, India barely even mobilized its land forces and the Indian navy too was kept at a good distance.

 

[mithun29]

Today's Pakistan is much stronger than that in economy

Pakistan economy was/is never stronger .

 

[Yasser76]

Pakistan economy was/is never stronger .

Add something useful or maybe f**k off?

 

[Meengla]

Pakistan economy was/is never stronger .

I didn't mean stronger than India's. I clearly meant the Pakistani economy is stronger now than the Pakistani economy was in 1999. Some online breast beaters Pakistanis due to political reasons and the explosive population growth may give impression of all doom and gloom but that is not the position on the ground in Pakistan.