Pakistan secured a clear and decisive advantage over India in their latest military engagement, attributing the outcome to the effective use of advanced Chinese missile technology, Washington-based publication The National Interest, renowned for its focus on defense, national security, and military affairs, concluded in a recent analytical report.
In the report titled “How Chinese Missiles Routed India’s Air Force Over Pakistan,” the publication said that many defense analysts had initially assumed India’s superior military size, manpower, and budget would ensure a swift advantage. However, events on the battlefield defied expectations.
According to the report, in the early hours of May 7, 2025, Pakistan delivered a series of major blows to the Indian Air Force (IAF), claiming aerial victories that included the downing of five Indian fighter jets. These included three French-made Rafale jets, a domestically assembled Su-30MKI, and a Russian-built MiG-29—aircraft regarded among the most capable in the IAF’s arsenal.
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These claims, made by Islamabad, centered around the use of PL-15 air-to-air missiles, launched from the Chinese-supplied J-10C fighter jets. Notably, India has not publicly challenged the specifics of these Pakistani claims, a silence that has drawn attention within defense circles.
The report argues that the performance of Chinese missile systems in Pakistani hands is a stark reminder to global military observers: Beijing’s defense technology has reached a level of effectiveness that demands serious consideration.
The success of Pakistan’s aerial defense strategy represents not only a significant setback for the Indian military, but also a strategic signal to the West regarding the evolving balance of power in South Asia.
