'Sleeping on a mattress for days': PAF chief prepared for India’s strike before Rafale downing

Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Chief Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu was “sleeping on a mattress just off” the PAF operations room in early May, closely monitoring rising tensions with India.

His extended presence at the command centre reflected the high alert in Islamabad, as military leadership anticipated retaliatory action following an attack in Indian-administered Kashmir.

India blamed Pakistan for supporting militants behind the April assault, which killed 26 civilians. Denying involvement, Pakistan nonetheless faced Indian air strikes in the early hours of May 7 — an offensive that triggered a major aerial response.

As Indian jets approached, Sidhu ordered his Chinese-made J-10C fighters to scramble. “He wanted Rafales,” a senior PAF official said, referencing India’s French-built jets, considered a core part of its airpower.

The resulting battle, which experts estimate involved around 110 aircraft, is being described as the largest air-to-air encounter in decades. PAF jets reportedly downed at least one Rafale using PL-15 missiles, which were fired from beyond 200 kilometers — farther than Indian intelligence had estimated.

“We ambushed them,” the PAF official added, crediting both electronic warfare tactics and real-time intelligence gathered via a Pakistani-developed “kill chain” system that integrated ground, air, and satellite data.

Indian officials dispute the effectiveness of Pakistan’s jamming efforts but acknowledge a failure to anticipate the missile’s true range. India has not officially confirmed the Rafale loss, though French and Pakistani sources suggest the aircraft was destroyed.

Experts say the episode underscored not just the role of advanced weaponry but the importance of “situational awareness” in modern air combat.