Wars 2019 02/27: Pakistan / India ..Operation Swift Retort

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Pakistan’s coordinated political, diplomatic, and military response shows Pakistan’s strong will to protect its integrity in case it will be challenged by any foreign country.

Pakistan’s limited and befitted response to the Indian attempt to sabotage the peace of the region was commendable and gave the world a message that Pakistan is a responsible nuclear state that knows how to protect its sovereignty in case any country tries to challenge it. It also exposed Indian strategic deterrence in time of conflict.

The PAF completely exposed the IAF’s mishandling of the situation on 27 Feb, shooting down their own Helicopter.

 

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Feb 27 to be remembered as ‘Operation Swift Retort’ Day: Pakistan Air Chief​

Zeeshan Mahmood
2 May 2019

Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan– while addressing the 264th Air Staff Presentation held at the Air headquarters Islamabad– has announced to celebrate February 27th as the Operation Swift Retort Day.

Addressing the principal staff officers, field commanders, officers and airmen, the air chief stated, “We bow our heads in complete humility and thank Almighty Allah for providing us an opportunity to come up to the expectations of our nation in giving a befitting reply to the enemy’s misadventure during the recent Indo-Pak conflict.” He said the “PAF’s swift response was the demonstration of our firm resolve, capacity, and capability in thwarting the nefarious designs of the adversary.”

February 26th and 27th are significant as Pakistan Air Force (PAF) foiled the attempts of Indian Air Force intrusion into Pakistan’s airspace from LoC Kashmir. On the night of February 26th, Indian jets violated the airspace of Pakistan but with the swift action from PAF, the Indian jets were chased off within a few seconds of the violation.

Later on Wednesday, 27th February, PAF shot down two Indian jets– as they attempted to violate Pakistan’s airspace– resulting in the death of one Indian soldier, and the capture of Indian Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who survived the crash but fell on the Pakistani side of the border. Pakistan Air Force was appreciated immensely for safeguarding the aerial space of the country from the Indian aggression.

Air Chief Marshall Mujahid Anwar further said to the audience, “I salute each one of you for showing strong commitment, perseverance, and motivation at being deployed at forwards operating basis at these tough testing times. Mujahid reiterated his resolve that in case of any misadventure by the adversary, PAF response would be even stronger than before.

 

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The wreckage of Wg. Cdr. Abhinandan Varthaman’s MiG-21bisUPG Bison stored at a secret location in Pakistan. The jet was shot down by an AIM-120C-5 AMRAAM fired by Wg Cdr Noman Ali Khan in an F-16A. Wg Cdr Khan received the third-highest military medal, the Sitara-e-Jurat, for his effort.

 

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A close-up of the MiG-21bisUPG Bison tail with the serial CU-2328. The Bison pilot, Wg Cdr Abhinandan Varthaman, was returned to India on March 1.
All photos Alan Warnes

 

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No 15 Squadron commander Wg Cdr (now Gp Capt) Faheem Ahmed heads up the group. He was awarded the Tamgha-e-Jurat, Pakistan’s fourth-highest military medal, for his role leading the squadron into battle.

The three pilots directly behind him – Sqn Ldr Waqar Saleem, Wg Cdr Rashid Sulehri and Sqn Ldr Faisal Hassan – also flew in the raid and received medals.

 

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All four of the missiles under the Bison’s wings are stored in a secret location. The R-73 (AA-11 ‘Archer’) and R-77 (AA-12 ‘Adder’) that were under the left wing are seen nearest. Both were scorched by the fire that engulfed the aircraft after it crashed. The ejection seat was also on display.

 

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A No 15 Squadron Mirage 5PA parked at a forward operating base in mid-April 2019. Six weeks after the events of February 27, Operation Swift Retort was still ongoing and all PAF personnel and jets remained on a high level of alert.

 

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A No 16 Squadron ‘Black Panthers’ JF-17 lifts of during a training sortie. Two of the unit’s aircraft dropped 1,000lb IREKs on targets in India in retaliation for the strikes on Balakot during February 26.

 

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Remembering the day....

 

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