On 27 May 1999, 22 years ago today Pakistan Army shot down two IAF Aircraft during the Kargil conflict after they violated the Pakistani border.
At 11:15 hours [PST] and IAF Mig-27 (with 1135 serial number) piloted by Flt Lt K Nachiketa intruded into Pakistan Airspace for bombing Pakistani posts, in response, Pakistan Air defense forces shot down IAF MIG-27. The Pilot was arrested and taken as POW, later was returned to India.
At 11: 35 [PST] hours, two MIG-21 violated Pakistani territory and one of the Mig-21(with tail number C1539) Piloted by Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja was shot down with Anza-II SAM, Pilot was killed.
Pakistan officials said it had shot down the two Indian jets when they ventured ”well inside our territory,” said an army spokesman, Brig. Rashid Quereshi.
Indian officials, however, said that one of the planes, a Russian-built MIG-27, crashed because of a mechanical failure. As the jet went down, its pilot bailed out, and a second aircraft, a MIG-21, responded to a distress signal. That plane was then destroyed by a Pakistani surface-to-air missile, said Air Vice-Marshal S. K. Malik.
The following day, a Mi-17 was shot down- with the loss of all four of the crew- when it was hit by three Stinger missiles while on an offensive sortie in the Tololing sector.
These losses forced the Indian Air Force to reassess its strategy. The helicopters were immediately withdrawn from offensive roles as a measure against the Man-portable air-defense system (MANPADS or MPADS).
The Kargil War, also known as the Kargil conflict was an armed conflict fought between India and Pakistan from May to July 1999 in the Kargil district of Kashmir and elsewhere along the Line of Control (LoC).
