SOURCE: AFI

Recent claims by segments of the Pakistani defence community and articles from Defence Security Asia asserting that Pakistan’s PL-15 Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) downed an Indian Air Force (IAF) Rafale jet at a distance of nearly 200 kilometers have sparked intense debate. These assertions, tied to the May 2025 India-Pakistan aerial clashes, suggest a remarkable feat for the Chinese-supplied PL-15E, credited with a range of up to 300 kilometers. However, a closer examination reveals significant technical and operational flaws in these claims, particularly regarding the feasibility of such a long-range kill using BVRAAMs, while contrasting this with the potential of systems like the S-400.

The primary challenge with the PL-15 achieving a 200-kilometer kill lies in the inherent limitations of BVRAAMs. These missiles rely on active radar homing (ARH) for terminal guidance, requiring the launching fighter to maintain a line-of-sight and provide midcourse updates, often via datalinks, until the missile’s seeker acquires the target.

SOURCE: AFI

The March 9, 2022, incident involving an Indian BrahMos missile landing near Mian Channu in Pakistan’s Punjab province has resurfaced as a subject of intense scrutiny, with conflicting narratives challenging the initial explanation of a “fluke firing.” Initially reported as an accidental launch from Ambala, Haryana, the missile crossed into Pakistan via the Suratgarh border, tracing a trajectory that included a striking 90° turn. Plotted on Google Earth, the missile’s path suggests it traveled approximately 124 kilometers within Pakistani airspace over 3 minutes and 44 seconds, reaching a speed of around Mach 1.6. Remarkably, it caused no significant damage, with local accounts indicating it impacted an unpopulated area.

Official statements from India at the time attributed the incident to a technical malfunction during routine maintenance, a claim supported by a subsequent Court of Inquiry that led to the dismissal of three Indian Air Force officers for procedural lapses. Pakistan, while condemning the breach of its airspace, tracked the missile’s flight and noted its unarmed status, avoiding escalation. The missile’s unusual maneuver—a sharp turn mid-flight—raised eyebrows, but the lack of casualties or destruction was widely seen as a fortunate outcome, averting a potential crisis between the nuclear-armed neighbors.

SOURCE: AFI

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has once again drawn criticism for sharing an inaccurate map of India, this time erroneously depicting the northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh as part of China. The controversy erupted after Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani, IDF’s International Spokesperson, posted a revised map on X in an attempt to correct an earlier error that had misrepresented India’s borders, including Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, and parts of the Northeast. However, the new map has sparked fresh outrage for its failure to accurately represent Arunachal Pradesh, a state India staunchly defends as an integral part of its territory.

The initial map, posted by the IDF on June 13, 2025, to illustrate the range of Iranian missiles, omitted India’s northeastern region, Nepal, and Bhutan, prompting swift backlash from Indian netizens on X. Shoshani acknowledged the mistake, stating, “While focusing on neutralizing the nuclear threat, we mistakenly used the wrong world map,” and expressed gratitude to Indian users for highlighting the error. A corrected map was subsequently shared, but the update has proven to be equally problematic, with Arunachal Pradesh shown as part of China—a move that has reignited concerns over the IDF’s cartographic accuracy.

SOURCE: AFI

The upcoming Paris Air Show, set to kick off on June 16, 2025, at Le Bourget, will feature a significant highlight as Dassault Aviation unveils a Rafale B equipped with conformal fuel tanks (CFTs). This marks a notable return to a concept the French manufacturer first explored in the early 2000s, only to shelve it at the time. The reintroduction of CFTs on the twin-seat Rafale B suggests Dassault is betting on renewed market interest, particularly for long-range deep-strike missions.

Conformal fuel tanks, mounted flush along the aircraft’s fuselage, enhance the Rafale’s range and payload capacity without the drag penalty associated with traditional external drop tanks. Initially tested in April 2001 with 1,150-liter CFTs, the technology promised a 20-25% range increase, a feature showcased at the same airshow over two decades ago. However, the idea was abandoned, possibly due to operational challenges or shifting priorities. The latest iteration, featuring CFTs on the Rafale B01 development aircraft, indicates a strategic pivot, potentially driven by evolving combat requirements and export opportunities.

SOURCE: AFI

Russian helicopters like the Mi-8, Mi-24, and Mi-28 often stand out for their rugged, bulky designs, lacking the sleek polish of their American counterparts such as the Black Hawk or Apache. They’re louder, heavier, and sometimes even seem old-fashioned, prompting questions about their aesthetics and performance. Yet, there’s a deliberate logic behind their design that makes them uniquely effective. Far from being flaws, their rough appearance and raw power are intentional choices rooted in practicality, resilience, and affordability. Here’s why Russian helicopters look the way they do—and why that’s a good thing.

Russian helicopters are engineered to endure the harshest environments on Earth—freezing Siberian tundras, scorching Middle Eastern deserts, muddy jungles, or remote outposts with no infrastructure. Unlike American helicopters, which prioritize advanced technology and streamlined designs, Russian models focus on raw durability. They’re big, sturdy, and simple, built to take off and land on rough terrain like dirt roads or uneven fields. Their robust airframes and heavy-duty components can withstand damage that might ground more delicate systems.