SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
In a dramatic escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan, the Indian Army released footage on May 12, 2025, purportedly showing the wreckage of a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Mirage 5 jet shot down during Operation Sindoor. The video, presented during a Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) briefing, was cited as evidence of India’s successful retaliation against Pakistani aggression following a terrorist attack in Kashmir on April 22, 2025, which killed 26 civilians. The footage has sparked intense debate and drawn global attention to the capabilities of both nations’ air forces, with the Mirage 5—a French-designed fighter-bomber capable of nuclear weapons delivery—taking center stage.
The Indian military’s video, widely shared on platforms like X, shows debris scattered across a field, including what appears to be a jet engine, tail fin, and remnants of a weapons. Air Marshal A K Bharti, addressing the briefing, credited India’s indigenous Akash air defense system for downing the Mirage 5, emphasizing that Indian bases remain fully operational with minimal losses.
The Dassault Mirage 5, developed by France in the 1960s, is a supersonic attack aircraft and fighter-bomber derived from the Mirage III. In Pakistan’s service, the Mirage 5 has been modified for ground attack and nuclear weapons delivery, making it a critical asset in the PAF’s arsenal. Measuring 15.55 meters in length with a 8.22-meter wingspan, it is powered by a Snecma Atar 9C turbojet engine, capable of speeds up to Mach 2.2. Pakistan’s fleet, which includes variants like the Mirage 5PA3 for anti-shipping roles, is equipped with advanced avionics and can carry a range of ordnance, including Exocet missiles and Chinese PL-15 missiles.
Indian officials claim the Mirage 5 was shot down while attempting to breach Indian airspace during retaliatory strikes following India’s Operation Sindoor, which targeted nine terrorist bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on May 7, 2025. The downed Mirage 5, according to India, was part of Pakistan’s failed counteroffensive, which also saw Turkish-supplied Byker YIHA III kamikaze drones crash ineffectively within Pakistani territory.
Pakistan, however, has not officially confirmed the loss of the Mirage 5, though its silence has fueled speculation. Some Pakistani analysts have suggested mechanical failure or friendly fire, pointing to a separate incident on May 7, 2025, where an ejection seat consistent with a Mirage 5 was found in Lahore. The presence of PL-15 missile debris in the Indian footage aligns with Pakistan’s use of Chinese weaponry, but questions remain about the engagement’s specifics, with no independent verification of the crash site or cause.
The incident has broader implications for the India-Pakistan conflict and the global arms industry. The Mirage 5’s downing, if confirmed, marks a significant blow to Pakistan’s aging fleet, which relies heavily on French and Chinese systems. Conversely, India’s Akash system, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), has gained credibility for its role in neutralizing a high-value target. The footage also counters Pakistani claims of downing multiple Indian jets, including Rafales, which India’s Press Information Bureau (PIB) has debunked as misinformation, citing unrelated or manipulated imagery.
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