SOURCE: AFI
In a surprising revelation, Air Commodore (Retd) Khalid Chishti, a decorated former Pakistan Air Force (PAF) fighter pilot, has claimed on The Ali.TM Podcast that a Chinese-supplied HQ-9B surface-to-air missile (SAM) system was responsible for downing an Indian Air Force (IAF) jet during the intense air clashes of May 2025.
This statement contradicts earlier assertions by Pakistan’s Directorate General of Inter-Services Public Relations (DGISPR) and Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, who credited all alleged IAF jet losses to the PAF’s Chinese-made J-10CE fighters equipped with PL-15E missiles. Chishti’s claim has reignited debates over the efficacy of Pakistan’s air defense systems and the veracity of official narratives surrounding the recent India-Pakistan conflict.
Speaking on The Ali.TM Podcast, Air Commodore Chishti, who has over 3,000 hours of flight experience and holds the Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Military) and Sitara-e-Basalat awards, stated that the HQ-9B, a long-range SAM system inducted into PAF service in 2023, was responsible for at least one IAF jet loss during the May 6–7, 2025, air engagements. This claim challenges the official Pakistani narrative, which attributed the downing of five IAF aircraft—four fighters and a drone—to J-10CE jets armed with PL-15E missiles. The DGISPR had released radar data and audio recordings on May 9, 2025, to support these claims, while Defence Minister Asif emphasized the J-10CE’s role in achieving air superiority during Operation Sindoor, India’s retaliatory strikes following the Pahalgam terror attack.
Chishti’s assertion points to the HQ-9B, a Chinese-made system with a reported range of 260 km, as a key player in Pakistan’s integrated air defense network. The system, comparable to Russia’s S-300 and S-400, is designed to engage aircraft, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles at long ranges, making it a formidable asset against high-altitude targets like IAF jets. According to Chishti, the HQ-9B’s advanced radar and missile capabilities enabled it to lock onto and destroy an IAF aircraft, potentially a Rafale or Su-30MKI, during the chaotic aerial battles over Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
The discrepancy between Chishti’s claim and the DGISPR’s narrative has raised questions about the accuracy of Pakistan’s official accounts. On May 7, 2025, Pakistani officials showcased the J-10CE’s success, with images of the fighter equipped with PL-15E missiles circulating widely on platforms like X. Chishti himself, in a separate interview with Geo News on May 7, had praised the J-10CE’s advanced AESA radar and long-range missiles, noting their superiority over India’s Rafale jets, which carry the European Meteor missile with a range of 150 km. The DGISPR’s press conference on May 9 further emphasized the J-10CE’s role, releasing audio recordings purportedly capturing the downing of IAF Rafale jets, though independent verification remains elusive.
India, however, has consistently disputed Pakistan’s claims. Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, speaking on May 11, acknowledged some IAF losses but denied the figure of six jets, calling it “absolutely incorrect.” Air Marshal A.K. Bharti, Director General of Air Operations, admitted losses but emphasized that India rectified tactics and conducted successful precision strikes on Pakistani airbases on May 7, 8, and 10. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs labeled reports of Rafale losses as “disinformation,” while Dassault Aviation, the Rafale’s manufacturer, refuted claims of three Rafales being downed, calling them “inaccurate.”
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