Sixth Kill Confirmed: Pakistan Also Downs Indian Mirage 2000 as Losses Mount

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) – Pakistan has confirmed the downing of a sixth Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter aircraft — a Mirage 2000 — during an intense aerial encounter on the night of 6–7 May near Pampore, located east of Srinagar in the contested Kashmir region.

The announcement, made by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif during his official visit to the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) base in Kamra, marks a significant achievement by Pakistan Air Force, bringing the total number of Indian fighters allegedly neutralized to six, including three of its frontline Rafales.

Prior to this, Islamabad had declared that five IAF combat aircraft were shot down during the initial stages of the conflict, comprising three Rafales, one MiG-29, and a Su-30MKI — all considered vital components of India’s frontline air power structure.

“The confirmed kill of a sixth Indian Air Force jet, a Mirage 2000 near Pampore on the night of May 6/7, once again demonstrates the superior combat performance of the Pakistan Air Force and the unwavering resolve of our Armed Forces to defend the motherland at any cost,” said Prime Minister Sharif.

Although the Pakistani leader refrained from disclosing which aircraft or missile system was responsible for the latest kill, defence observers believe the operation was likely executed by a PAF J-10C employing a Chinese-made PL-15 Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missile, echoing the same tactics used in the reported destruction of the three Indian Rafales.

The J-10C, an advanced multirole fighter jointly developed by Chengdu Aircraft Corporation and equipped with AESA radar and stealth coatings, forms the backbone of Pakistan’s high-end BVR interception capability alongside its indigenous JF-17 “Thunder.”

The JF-17 Block III variant, also deployed during the ongoing hostilities, is similarly capable of deploying PL-15E missiles and represents Pakistan’s growing emphasis on self-reliant, network-centric combat aviation.

Both the Mirage 2000 and Rafale — developed by Dassault Aviation — are cornerstone platforms of the IAF, and their reported destruction deals a substantial psychological and operational blow to New Delhi’s conventional deterrent posture.

During his base visit, Prime Minister Sharif personally met with PAF pilots credited with shooting down all six Indian fighters, namely three Rafales, one MiG-29, one Su-30MKI, and most recently, the Mirage 2000.

To date, India has yet to issue any formal response regarding Pakistan’s claims about the downing of the Mirage 2000 over Pampore, despite mounting international scrutiny and growing digital forensic evidence.

Even in the face of accumulating imagery and open-source verification hinting at multiple losses, Indian defence authorities continue to withhold public acknowledgment of the claimed six airframe losses.

When questioned on the status of the three downed Rafales, IAF senior commander Air Marshal A.K. Bharti deflected with, “We are in a wartime scenario; losses are part of the battle,” a remark seen by many analysts as an implicit confirmation.

To regional military observers, the vagueness of Bharti’s response only reinforces the credibility of Pakistan’s narrative surrounding the shootdowns.

In a press briefing during the early days of the conflict, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar claimed that PAF fighters had engaged a massive Indian aerial deployment involving 75 to 80 aircraft — an engagement described as the largest air combat exchange in South Asian history.

According to Dar, all five (now six)  aircraft initially brought down by Pakistan — including three Rafales — were neutralized using long-range PL-15E missiles launched by PAF’s J-10C fleet.

The PL-15E, China’s most advanced air-to-air missile currently available for export, is powered by a dual-pulse motor, reaches speeds exceeding Mach 4, and incorporates an AESA radar seeker, giving it decisive advantages in high-speed BVR engagements.

Purpose-built to counter adversaries operating with advanced AEW&C support and stealth platforms, the PL-15 has become a critical element of Chinese and allied airpower doctrines, including within the Pakistan Air Force.

Independent corroboration of Pakistan’s claims has also begun to surface from international quarters.

“Pakistan’s J-10C fighters were responsible for downing at least two Indian Air Force jets,” U.S. officials familiar with the conflict reportedly told Reuters.

Further validation emerged via CNN’s veteran national security correspondent Jim Sciutto, who cited French intelligence sources confirming that at least one Indian Rafale was shot down during the engagements.

If verified, it would mark the first confirmed combat loss of a Rafale anywhere in the world, dramatically altering perceptions of the jet’s invulnerability and opening a new chapter in modern air warfare.

India first acquired the Mirage 2000 from Dassault Aviation in the 1980s to bolster its strategic strike capability, with the aircraft later proving its mettle during the 1999 Kargil War in precision bombing roles in the Himalayas.

The IAF currently operates an estimated 50 Mirage 2000s in several variants, including the single-seat 2000H and twin-seat 2000TH models, which are primarily based at Gwalior Air Force Station in Madhya Pradesh.

Squadrons No. 1 “Tigers” and No. 7 “Battle Axes,” both renowned for their elite status, are responsible for operating these legacy jets, which have undergone extensive avionics and weapon system upgrades.

India’s Mirage 2000s now feature improved electronic warfare systems, modern glass cockpits, and are integrated with MICA radar-guided BVR missiles and AS-30L air-to-ground precision weapons, ensuring their continued relevance in modern aerial operations.

Powered by a single SNECMA M53-P2 engine delivering 95 kN of thrust with afterburner, the Mirage 2000 is capable of achieving speeds above Mach 2.2 and offers a combat radius of approximately 1,550 km, extendable via external fuel tanks or aerial refuelling.

Armed with two DEFA 30mm cannons and capable of carrying both air-to-air and air-to-surface munitions, the Mirage 2000 remains a nimble and deadly multirole fighter more than four decades after its induction.

However, if Pakistan’s claim is substantiated, the destruction of a Mirage 2000 — alongside multiple Rafales — may signal a profound shift in the regional air power balance and the emergence of China-supplied platforms and weaponry as a serious challenge to Western-supplied systems in South Asia.

— DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA