Pakistan

Missile shown by Indian generals appears to be one sold to Taiwan

Wreckage displayed by the Indian generals identified the missile as an AIM-120C-5 AMRAAM

Zeeshan Ahmad February 28, 2019

Part of a missile India claims was launched a PAF F-16. SCEREN GRAB

KARACHI: As New Delhi presented what it claimed was ‘incontrovertible proof’ that Pakistan used its F-16 fighter jets in Wednesday’s air action, a US defence department document has suggested that the missile remains the Indian military found could belong to a missile sold by the US to Taiwan.

India’s top military brass on Thursday displayed the remains of an American-made missile as ‘absolute proof’ that the Pakistan Air Force used F-16s in aerial operations conducted the day before. Claiming that the missile could only have been launched by an F-16, the Indian generals tried to strengthen their claims that the Indian Air Force also shot down a PAF F-16 while losing a MiG-21.

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The wreckage displayed by the Indian generals identified the missile as an AIM-120C-5 AMRAAM. Markings on the wreckage also identified the contract serial number of the missile as FA8675-05-C-0070.

A Google search The Express Tribune ran using the keyword ‘AMRAAM’ along with the serial number in question returned links to a US Department of Defense (DoD) document titled “Report to Congress on Department Of Defense Sales of Significant Military Equipment to Foreign Entities Fiscal Year 2009”.

The report revealed that contract number FA867505C0070 corresponded to a batch of AIM-120C-5 AMRAAM missiles supplied to Taiwan in a Foreign Military Sale worth $2.38 million.

It should be noted that Pakistan does not recognise Taiwan as a separate entity from the People’s Republic of China and as such, does not have any diplomatic or consular relations with Taiwan.

How the wreckage of a missile sold to Taiwan ended up in the hands of an Indian military air vice marshal is something only New Delhi can explain.

A version of the report can be found on the official website of the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment. It can be accessed via the following link:

https://www.acq.osd.mil/dpap/cpic/cp/docs/USA002235-10_Complete%20Foreign%20Military%20Sales.pdf

COMMENTS (14)

Raheel | 5 years ago | Reply This is fantastic! I am speechless and Lol. I would rather say Joke of this year. This Indian media (Comedy Central) is just a series of comedy shows and I am loving there each and every program.

Hammad | 5 years ago | Reply Taiwan conducted live fire exercises in January 2019 including fighter planes. India recognises Taiwan and also participates in joint milutary excercises.. hence, highly likely that the missile debris may have come from the live fire excercises..

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Pakistani | 5 years ago | Reply To be honest, i had heard all the three representatives of Indian armed forces from start to end and what i concluded is nothing less than white lies as most of the questions received bluffed answers. As for example, one of the media persons asked please give proof of killing 300 terrorists across the border only to receive the reply that we have achieved what we intended. Now even a lay man questions their credibility.

salman | 5 years ago | Reply LOL more humiliation towards India's way.

pat | 5 years ago | Reply very interesting. how did they obtain the fragment?

Umair | 5 years ago | Reply Brilliant work Tribune!

SM Riaz | 5 years ago | Reply Good work, Tribune. One more thing, there is also a possibility that it may have been launched from a surface platform. Initial web search doesn't preclude that possibility. Poor Indians go get a "Gopro" camera for some future face saving measure.

Ahmed | 5 years ago | Reply Superb and real journalism from tribune! This pretty much exposed the propaganda machine across the border. Well, let them be happy with what they want to believe.

Reji | 5 years ago | Reply Looks like the Americans are selling outdated and end of life missiles to Pakistan.

London Banker | 5 years ago | Reply Excellent work. Well done

Chalice | 5 years ago | Reply Indian media and defense reporting has become a legit clown show. Did they really think no one would find out that this was sold to Taiwan?

blue | 5 years ago | Reply good work

Sohail | 5 years ago | Reply Great work by tribune team. For the sake of peace loving people of both countries, India should understand the claims in haste will lead to more pressure in their country. What has happened has happened, its time to calm down.

Fazi | 5 years ago | Reply Fantastic investigative journalism by Tribune. Must appreciate

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