Releasing HUD footage, audio and radar evidence with parts redacted to satisfy security concerns isn’t uncommon with aviation incidents.

Here is the issue Quadbike, the international media (with the exception of Russia, for their own obvious reasons) has largely rejected Indian claim, and has questioned the efficacy of the preceeding strike based on the evidence available. In essence, your making your stance that these points are irrelevant as majority of Indians believe the Government’s version of the events.

What your describing is propaganda, not an evidence based factual analysis. Losing the after action battle for credibility will have a negative effect on India, maybe not now in the glow of national fervor and pride, but years down the road as a more sober analysis puts these events into proper perspective.

The jet that shot down the F 16 was the downed MiG and its flattened like a tortilla on the Pakistani side. I do not think the MiG 21 has a datalink that transmits real time data to IAF AWACS, GC or other assets. So there is little chance of a HUD footage being available.

The western media is by and large biased for similar reasons as you say the Russian media is biased. The Western interest in the matter is this : It does not want any disruptive conflicts between India and Pakistan and is happy if India’s response to terror attacks range from strong condemnation to appeals to the U.N. Both of which are of little effect. So they are not neutral – they do have vested interests. And neither Indian establishment, nor IAF, and certainly most of the Indian Public subscribes to this balancing act. Then there is the added need to sell their equipment to IAF.

Factual analysis can only occur on the basis of evidence. Since the evidence lies in ruins in Pakistani side of the LoC, the evidence that you seek for can only be had from the Pakistani side. India did show the remains of the AMRAAM which totally discredited PAF claims of F 16s not being in use.

Also like I mentioned before IAF story does not have any holes, there are no retractions while the Pakistani story was proven to be false on multiple counts with irrefutable evidence. a, The F 16 was used, b, Only one Indian jet was shot down instead of the claimed 2 and c, They only had one Indian pilot, they claimed to have two, one was a PAF pilot from the downed falcon and that is why they retracted.

Yes we will wait for a more sober analysis, but as for now the Indian version of events have fewer plot holes.

I’m failing to see how a Retired AVM has any evidence or insight to corroborate these events. At this point, the Indian claims of the F-16 shootdown are turning from Cause célèbre to an international PR nightmare.

The IAF should either release AWAC data of the engagement, audio, any relevant HUD footage to back up government and media claims, or outright contradict them. The credibility of the Indian Gov. position in regards to the entire terror strike is being undermined by the inability to present a clear, consistent narrative backed up by evidence. Even the hero of the hour, Abhinandan has made no such claim of the F-16 downing being attributed to him,

I will believe a retired Air Vice Marshal of the Indian Air Force over any users here or those ‘arm chair analysts’ and a western media obsessed with the balancing act and preventing war. The new India does not want to prevent war at any costs.

As long as he is in IAF service, Abhinandan will only be able to share such information with the approval of IAF.

I do not think IAF would release AWACS data or any sensitive material to satisfy the international public or aviation enthusiasts.

The cardinal rule of any battle including fist fights at the local bar is. Even if its not witnessed by any or even if the witnesses forget, the one who struck the blow and the one who received it will not forget about it.

IAF strikes and engagement had the desired benefit.

1. It is unlikely that Pakistan will allow terror outfits to strike India again, and if they do then India will strike Pakistan (that is established and the P.M downwards have been pretty clear, no matter how high the escalation matrix becomes any terror strike in India by Pakistani based militants will result in a strike on their bases in Pakistan).

2. Showed the skill of the IAF (at least in the eyes of Indian public) by downing a newer fighter with a legacy aircraft.

3. The whole episode had been more disruptive for Pakistani establishment and civilian life with the closure of their air space. The closure of Indian air Space was minimal and for most Indians its business as usual.

4. It was able to prove beyond doubt that PakistanI F16s were involved blowing PAF’s claim out of the water and possibly landing them in trouble with the U.S.

Thats what I thought. I think the botched raid and downed plane led to his removal

He retired as he reached retirement age. That is all.

And stop trolling and flame biting in the IAF thread. The last one was closed because of your petulance and lack of proper moderation.

Air chief Marshal B S Dhanoa on Monday said the country would get the French fighter jet Rafale by September.

“Rafale jet fighter should come into India’s inventory by September,” the Indian Air Force chief said a press conference.

Just after 10 am on February 27, 2019, the Pakistan Air Force deployed “a large strike package” of modern F-16 Falcons, Chinese made JF-17s and some vintage Mirage-5 attack jets to avenge India’s bombing of terror sanctuaries in Balakot, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. The PAF’s targets were Indian military installations – primarily the brigade headquarters in Bhimber Gali, Jammu, minutes from the Line of Control.

The Indian Air Force scrambled six MiG-21s from its frontline air base in Srinagar to intercept the Pakistani fighters; Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman’s fighter was among these six aircraft. The IAF also despatched Sukhoi-30MKIs, Mirage-2000s and MiG-29s from other airbases to provide combat air patrol for the MiG-21 interceptors.

In the ensuing dogfight, the first between India and Pakistan since the 1971 War, Wing Commander Varthaman in his Soviet-era jet managed to acquire a lock on one of the F-16s, shooting it down with a short-range Vympel R-73 air to air missile. Although he couldn’t see the outcome of the short 15-minute high-altitude dogfight, Varthaman radioed to base the words “R-73 selected”. Seconds later he was himself shot down.

Being the first recorded F-16 kill in history, you’d think it would send ripples across the world of aviation. But curiously, Western defence experts maintained complete silence as the impact of what Varthaman had accomplished took the wind out of the F-16’s fanboys.