Once the dust settles, in a year, Bollywood will make movies showing how Indian pilots are destroying Pakistani aircraft one by one and coming home with a hero’s welcome. Later, Bollywood actresses, with their cosmetically surgied eyes, noses, lips and skin-whitening cream, will fall in love with these pilots.
Meanwhile, a high-ranking French intelligence official confirms that Pakistan downed three Rafale jet operated by the Indian Air Force during the recent India-Pakistan clash. One Rafale fighter jet crashed after returning from a night raid.
India, during Operation Sindoor, used its Rafale jets armed with Scalp (Storm Shadow) missiles and armed with Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range (Hammer) precision bombs to hit nine locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Operation Sindoor targeted nine locations: Muzaffarabad, Kotli, Bahawalpur, Rawalakot, Chakswari, Bhimber, Neelum Valley, Jhelum, and Chakwal.
Pakistan responded swiftly, as the country’s military officials stated that they had shot down five Indian aircraft: three Dassault Rafale fighters, one Sukhoi Su-30mki, one Mirage 2000, one Jaguar and one Mikoyan Mig-29, as well as an Israeli-built IAI Heron reconnaissance drone. These claims were delivered publicly by Pakistan Armed Forces spokesperson Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry.
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 seven 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.
Lack of competency
Indian pilots lack competency in flying combat aircraft. A pilot competency matrix outlines the essential skills, knowledge, and behaviours needed for a pilot to perform their duties effectively.
- Maintaining a comprehensive understanding of the aircraft’s position, altitude, and surrounding environment.
- Making sound judgments and taking appropriate actions under various flight conditions.
- Effectively conveying information to crew members, air traffic control, and other stakeholders.
- Prioritising tasks, managing distractions, and efficiently handling multiple responsibilities.
- Fostering a positive and collaborative environment within the flight crew.
- Following established protocols and guidelines during flight operations.
- Possessing a thorough understanding of aviation principles, aircraft systems, and relevant regulations.
- Effectively utilising automation and manual controls to operate the aircraft safely.
- Accurately planning routes, monitoring progress, and adjusting as needed.
- Proficiency in handling aircraft, using instruments, and managing emergencies.
Poor training regime
Fighter pilot training regimes are rigorous and comprehensive. They typically last 2-3 years and involve academic study, flight instruction, and physical training. The training emphasises flying skills, crucial survival skills, and combat tactics. Neither India nor Pakistan has a proper training regime for pilots. Still, Pakistan is ahead of India in regular training due to F-16 fighter jets and assistance from the Turkish air force.
Training includes simulated aerial combat scenarios and drills to hone skills in manoeuvring, weapon deployment, and strategic decision-making.
Poor physical fitness
Fighter pilots must maintain high levels of physical fitness to handle the G-forces and physical demands of flying. This often involves strength training, cardio, and endurance exercises.
Indians eat two pieces of roti (bread), chatni (sour sauce), and raita (yoghurt) every day. Without nutritional meals and fitness training, you are not going to pull G-force, demonstrate combat manoeuvres, make decisions, engage weapons, and win a war. Indian pilots and military personnel lack physical fitness due to their poor diet and non-protein meals.
Poor operational planning and readiness
Operational readiness in air combat refers to a unit’s or individual’s ability to perform assigned missions effectively. It encompasses factors like equipment availability, serviceability, sustainability, personnel proficiency, and training. In air combat, operational readiness is crucial for ensuring that aircrews and aircraft are ready to respond to threats and complete assigned missions. It also involves maintaining the ability of aircraft and equipment to operate effectively and efficiently.
India and Pakistan lack excellent operational planning like Western countries, but India takes it for granted because it bought Rafale fighter jets. Purchasing a Ronaldo jersey, expensive soccer boots, socks, and a fancy haircut will not make you Ronaldo. You have to earn it every day.
These exercises test the skills of aircrews and units in carrying out their missions. These inspections assess the overall readiness of a unit or squadron, focusing on factors like flying skill, bombing accuracy, and material maintenance. These tests are designed to improve readiness by identifying areas where training or resources must be enhanced. Maintaining a high level of operational readiness is a key element of deterring potential adversaries. A high degree of operational readiness is essential for completing assigned missions.
No multi-domain warfare doctrine
India and Pakistan lack multi-domain awareness. Still, India has enormous military spending and a large budget. It is expected that the Indian Air Force, Navy, and Army would be multi-domain aware. Still, with significant corruption in the armed forces, it is challenging to implement such a complex technology, training, and protocol for a country where food, water, and sanitation are priorities over the military.
Multi-domain warfare is a military strategy that integrates all available domains (land, air, sea, space, and cyber) to achieve a unified effect, creating multiple dilemmas for the enemy. It aims to synchronise capabilities across different domains and environments, ensuring that no single domain operates in isolation.
Adapting training and doctrine to support multi-domain operations can be challenging and require significant investment. Ensuring seamless integration and sharing of data and information across different domains and platforms can be a considerable hurdle.
A more holistic understanding of the operating environment and the enemy’s capabilities, supported by real-time data and intelligence, can lead to more informed and effective decision-making.
Multi-domain warfare recognises that no single domain can operate effectively without the support and integration of others. This means coordinating land, air, sea, space, and cyber capabilities to achieve a common objective.
In essence, multi-domain warfare is a complex but powerful approach to military operations that seeks to leverage the capabilities of all available domains to achieve decisive and sustained effects on the enemy.
Low-performing airborne early warning radar
The A 50 air borne early radar system is Soviet piece of crap. At the beginning of 2011, the Russian aircraft detection and guidance systems entered the Soviet era thanks to the backwards-compatible technology—Russia’s commissioning of the long-awaited modernised A-50u OKB Beriev aircraft. By mid-2013, two A-50Us were in operation; the third was expected by the year’s end, and the fourth was planned to be commissioned in 2014. Modernising the A-50 can be seen as an upgrade for the Air Force, which finally put low-performing computers into display systems paired with 1980s radar. India built Netra AEW&C, but that is a patchy job for the air force by Hindustan Aeronautics. Pakistan has the upper hand on airborne early warning and control through the acquisition of Saab 2000 AEW&C. Saab AEW&C played a crucial role in downing Rafale fighter jets.
Digital transformation
Leveraging digital technologies and data-driven approaches to enhance command and control, improve decision-making, and facilitate information sharing across domains.
Low morale
India still has caste systems in their society. Hindu, Muslim or lower caste members can decide their fate in a government job, whether it is military or not.
In Hinduism, the caste system, known as varna, divides society into four main groups: Brahmins (priests), Kshatriyas (warriors/rulers), Vaishyas (merchants/traders), and Shudras (laborers). Beyond these, there’s also the category of Dalits (formerly known as “Untouchables”), who are considered outside the varna system.
The caste system creates a massive barrier to establishing a close-knit environment in the military.
Fighter pilot morale can be significantly impacted by factors like fatigue, lack of action, and concerns about the future of manned combat aircraft, potentially negatively affecting their performance and mental well-being. However, they are also driven by a strong sense of duty, the thrill of flying, and the camaraderie within their units, which helps maintain morale.
The close-knit environment and shared experiences among fighter pilots and their support staff contribute to a strong sense of camaraderie and belonging.
While fighter pilots face considerable challenges, their strong sense of duty, the excitement of their profession, and the support of their unit play crucial roles in maintaining their morale. Understanding the factors that impact morale is essential for ensuring that fighter pilots can perform at their best and maintain their psychological well-being.
Lack of confidence
Indian pilots lack confidence due to their low morale and poor training regime. They cannot take risks during the mission and are unwilling to make a decision when engaging with Pakistani aircraft.
Corruption destroyed National Security
Pakistan and India are corrupt countries. National security is taken as a joke, and military personnel take brides to pay their bills—that’s the norm in their country. Indian Air Force officers are known to receive bribes from Hindustan Aeronautics to accept aircraft with second-hand engines and counterfeit parts.
With this mentality, Operational readiness will be down to zero. Operational readiness contributes to the overall strength and readiness of the armed forces, which is crucial for national security.
In summary, fighter pilot training demands mental and physical fortitude. It is designed to develop pilots into highly skilled aviators who can fly advanced aircraft, survive, and thrive in challenging combat environments.
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