Pakistan’s F-16 Which Violated Indian Air Space Shot Down by Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman with Mig-21 Bison; IAF Presents Cover of AMRAAM Missile As Evidence

The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Thursday exposed lies of Pakistan. During a joint press briefing of tri-service wings in New Delhi, Air Vice Marshal Ravi Kapoor showed an evidence to reporters that Pakistan used F-16 fighter jet to violated the Indian air space on February 27. The IAF presented a cover of AMRAAM missile fired from the Pakistani F-16 aircraft as a proof to prove its point. The F-16 was shot down by IAF’s Mig 21 Bison fighter jet during an engaging battle. F-16 Block 70 or Gripen E for Indian Air Force.

Briefing the media, Air Vice Marshal Ravi Kapoor said, “There is enough evidence to show that F-16s were used in this mission through their electronic signatures. Parts of AMRAAM, air to air missile which is carried only on the Pakistani F-16s was recovered east of Rajouri within the Indian territory.” Indian Air Force to get 110 Fighter Jets; Will it Suffice?

Insights about AMRAAM:

The AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) is a modern American beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) capable of all-weather day-and-night operations. The missile is designedwith a 7-inch (180mm) diameter form-and-fit factor. It is employed with active transmit-receive radar guidance instead of semi-active receive-only radar guidance, it has the advantage of being a fire-and-forget weapon. Pulwama Attack: Over 40 CRPF Jawans Martyred; Here is The List of Major Terror Attacks by JeM Against India.

The missile is capable of carrying 18.1kg high-explosive blast fragmentation and has a range of 40-50 kilometre. In early 2006, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) ordered 500 AIM-120C-5 AMRAAM missiles as part of a $650 million F-16 ammunition deal to equip its F-16C/D Block 50/52+ and F-16A/B Block 15 MLU fighters. Currently, the missile is procured by 37 countries.

Pakistan signed a contract with the United States in November 2006 to procure the missiles. According to a contract dated November 17, 2006, Raytheon Co., Tucson, Ariz., is being awarded a $269,646,834 firm-fixed-price contract modification, so this action is exercising an option to purchase 500 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) Air Vehicles (AAVs) Air Intercept Missile (AIM) – 120C-5 missiles and rehost which in turn supports foreign military sales to Pakistan 100%. The contract further stated, at this time, total funds have been obligated. This work will be complete April 2011 and headquarters Medium Range Missile Systems Group, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity (FA8675-05-C-0070/P00028).

Meanwhile, the F-16 was shot down by the IAF’s Mig-21 Bison was also ex-Jordanian. According to sources, F-16.net database confirms the aircraft number, as the number hand-written on the engine component corresponds with the aircraft ID number from back when it was still in Jordanian service. Meanwhile, In February 2014, Pakistan placed an order for an entire squadron of 14 (some sources say 13) F-16 A/Bs with the RJAF and delivery of the F-16 aircraft began in April 2015, reported The Diplomat. However, the US blocked the second batch of F-16 in 2016. These AMRAAMs sold to Jordan (also under 0070 contract) were sold to Pakistan as package along with the F-16A/Bs. These F-16A/Bs were later upgraded to F-16C/D standard by TAI in Turkey.

Meanwhile, earlier on Thursday, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan announced that his government will release Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, the IAF pilot who was captured by the Pakistan Army after his aircraft was shot down. The IAF pilot engaged the Pakistan fighter jets which violated the Indian air space on February 27, a day after the IAF conducted air strikes on Jaish-e-Mohammed terror camps in Pakistan’s Balakot. In the processed he crossed the Line of Control (LoC). As per reports, Wg Cd. Varthaman shot down PAF’s F-16 before getting hit. It was the time when the fourth generation F-16 fighter jet was hit by the second generation Mig-21 Bison aircraft.