Beyond hardware: PAF’s success in the May 2025 war

A closer look at how pilot training, leadership, multi-domain operations shaped Pakistan’s May 2025 victory

The Pakistan-India May 2025 war is referenced in the November 2025 report produced by the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission for the US Congress. This congressional commission monitors and reports on US-China relations and their national security impacts.

In the report, the focus is maintained on Chinese-produced weaponry, emphasising that Pakistan’s success in the May 2025 war was a product of the Chinese-supplied J-10C, PL-15, and HQ-9. Moreover, citing the Indian Army as its source, the report also alleged Pakistan’s use of Chinese intelligence during the war.

These assertions undermine the basic essence of the PAF’s victory: its transformation into a forward-leaning, resilient, and next-generation air force under the incumbent Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu. Undoubtedly, PAF’s victory came about through the use of Chinese-supplied weaponry, but the core argument is missing. It was the excellent deployment of these systems, coupled with rigorous training of PAF pilots and indigenised systems developed by the NASTP — the brainchild of the current air chief — that overwhelmed the IAF.

Pakistan demonstrated its ability to employ its air force in a highly potent manner, yet this fact has been undermined and left unacknowledged. The truth is that the PAF used Chinese equipment, effectively employed it in Marka-e-Haq, a multi-domain operation (MDO), and successfully defeated the fourth most powerful air force in the world. In my assessment, even if Chinese technology has come into the limelight and Beijing has attempted to share credit for Pakistan’s indigenous capabilities, there is little issue with that. The end result of the May war, widely published and recognised globally, was a clear victory for Pakistan.

In another instance, the US Congress report impassively acknowledges that Indian fighters were shot down by the PAF. The report admits, albeit with equivocation and without detail, that the IAF lost aircraft, capping the number at three. This ambiguity obscures the truth, which has been acknowledged by US President Donald Trump. According to his latest statement, “Eight [Indian] planes, seven [Indian] planes were shot down, an eighth was really badly wounded.”

Pakistan reports that it downed seven IAF fighters, a blow that grounded the Indian Air Force for two days. Despite IAF resistance during the largest night-time BVR engagement in modern history, the PAF shot down four Rafales, one MiG-29, one Mirage-2000, and one Sukhoi-30. These figures were presented only after a stringent burden of proof was met, including electronic evidence. Final confirmation came from ground verification, with locals identifying wreckage of downed Indian aircraft. Additionally, Indian media outlets also confirmed the loss of several IAF fighters.

The report further quotes French intelligence alleging that China used fake social media accounts to circulate AI-generated images of IAF aircraft debris, allegedly to undermine Rafale sales in favour of its J-35s. However, it is in France’s interest to emphasise Rafale performance to avoid marketing challenges for its flagship fighter aircraft. Moreover, this propaganda against China is misplaced, given that Rafale is a 4.5-generation aircraft while the J-35 is a stealth fighter.

The report cites Indonesia as halting its Rafale purchase post-May 2025. While several factors may have influenced Jakarta’s decision, particularly Rafale’s high cost, the performance observed during the May war may have provided additional impetus.

In cases of coercion to purchase defence platforms, the US-India example is instructive. The F-35, a cost-prohibitive aircraft, is being pushed on India by President Trump against the backdrop of New Delhi’s trade deficit with Washington. Historically, India has preferred European fighters such as the Mirage-2000 and Rafale, followed by Russian platforms including the Su-30 and MiG-29.

Nevertheless, a misnomer has been propagated that India does not use US military equipment. This could not be further from the truth. While its fighter fleet may differ, the IAF’s support and force-multiplier assets are predominantly American. India relies on the Lockheed C-17 and C-130 Hercules for strategic airlift. It operates three top-tier US helicopters: the Chinook for heavy lift, the Apache for attack roles, and the Black Hawk for tactical airlift and special operations. Additionally, India has acquired the MQ-9B Predator UAV for strategic use across all three services. In effect, the IAF uses US equipment across nearly every operational domain.

Overall, the US Congress report neither presents the full facts nor offers a balanced perspective. Instead, it adopts a biased tone that frames the PAF’s victory as solely dependent on Chinese hardware, overlooking the exceptional performance of PAF pilots and leadership. The reality is that Pakistan’s victory was not simply imported; it was engineered through disciplined training, indigenous innovation, and effective orchestration of multi-domain operations. The South Asian skies bore witness to the potency of an air force built on resilience, ingenuity, and strategic mastery.