An ejection seat believed to belong to an Indian Air Force Mig-29 fighter jet was discovered in the Indian-administered region of Jammu and Kashmir’s Ramban district.
After much speculation about fighter jet losses, an image has now emerged online showing the vertical tail of an Indian Rafale allegedly shot down by the Pakistani AMRAAM. As we mentioned in our previous report about the ongoing clashes between India and Pakistan, the latter claimed it shot down five aircraft of the former, including three Rafales.
Backed by Saab 2000 AEW&C, F-16 fired the AMRAAM missiles while Pakistani Air Force fighters were in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, which surprised the Indian Air Force as the PAF overtook the Indian control area. Pakistan JF-17 Block 2, JF-17 Block 3 and J-10C have no data link and networking capabilities. The only way Pakistan could engage Indian aircraft is if it received early warning from Swedish AEWC integrated with American F-16 fighter jets.
Photos from the scene show a Russian-made Zvezda K-36DM ejection seat, a system used in India’s Mig-29 and Su-30mki aircraft. Additionally, remnants of an RD-33 engine—standard on the Mig-29—were identified, confirming the aircraft type involved.
The crash site lies more than 80 kilometres from the Line of Control (Loc), suggesting the aircraft was struck at an unusually long range, prompting speculation about advanced beyond-visual-range (BVR) missile use in the current confrontation, such as AIM-120 AMRAAM.
Neither the Indian Air Force nor the Ministry of Defence has officially commented on the loss. However, the discovery follows a string of high-profile events triggered by India’s retaliatory strikes on Pakistani territory, reportedly in response to a deadly terrorist attack in Kashmir.
As noted by open-source analysts, this latest crash underscores the intensity and reach of the conflict, which has involved precision strikes, air-to-air engagements, and cruise missile use.
Pakistan has claimed responsibility for downing multiple Indian aircraft, though only the loss of one Rafale jet has been acknowledged by New Delhi thus far. The confirmed wreckage of a Mig-29 may point to further losses not yet publicly disclosed by Indian authorities.
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