Afghanistan claims it downed a Pakistani F-16. Can Kabul really shoot one down?

NEW DELHI: Afghanistan connected Friday claimed that Pakistan had mislaid an American-made F-16 combatant pitchy during overnight strikes targeting aggregate Afghan cities. Social media accounts linked to what they described arsenic “Afghanistan Defense” shared a video purportedly showing burning wreckage of an F-16, alleging it had been changeable down by Taliban defence forces.Pakistan has not confirmed immoderate nonaccomplishment of an F-16. There has been nary autarkic verification of the video. X’s in-house AI instrumentality Grok flagged the footage arsenic not authentic, stating, “No, this video isn’t existent arsenic claimed.” As of now, determination are nary confirmed reports that a Pakistani F-16 has been changeable down.

The assertion emerged aft Pakistan launched subject enactment nether Operation Ghazab Lil Haq, describing it arsenic retaliation for what it called “unprovoked firing” from Afghanistan.

Strikes were reported successful Kabul, Kandahar and different locations. Afghan authorities said they responded to the attacks, escalating tensions on the border.Also read: Did Pakistan suffer different F-16? Afghanistan makes large claim; shares video

Can Afghanistan down an F-16?

An F-16 is simply a fourth-generation multirole combatant craft equipped with radar informing receivers, physics countermeasures, flares, chaff and data-linked situational consciousness systems. It is designed to run successful contested airspace and support against surface-to-air threats.

For Afghanistan to sprout down an F-16, it would request either:

There is nary verified grounds that Afghanistan operates precocious long-range aerial defence systems specified arsenic S-300, S-400, Patriot, HQ-9, Aster 30 oregon NASAMS. Afghanistan does not person a modern integrated aerial defence web comparable to determination militaries.

How tin an F-16 beryllium downed?

Broadly, an F-16 tin beryllium downed nether the pursuing circumstances:1. Surface-to-air rocket (SAM) engagement: Ground-based aerial defence systems tin way and prosecute combatant craft utilizing radar-guided oregon infrared-guided missiles.

Long-range systems usage integrated radar networks to observe targets astatine extended distances, portion short-range systems oregon man-portable aerial defence systems (MANPADS) tin people craft flying astatine little altitudes. If a rocket successfully locks onto the craft and defeats its countermeasures, it tin origin captious damage.2. Air-to-air combat: Another combatant craft equipped with beyond-visual-range oregon short-range air-to-air missiles tin prosecute an F-16.

Modern aerial combat depends heavy connected radar detection, physics warfare and positioning. A palmy rocket shot, peculiarly if launched from an advantageous position, tin neutralise adjacent a susceptible aircraft.3. Anti-aircraft artillery oregon crushed fire: If flying astatine debased altitude during onslaught missions, an F-16 whitethorn beryllium exposed to radar-guided anti-aircraft guns oregon dense instrumentality weapon fire. While modern jets typically run astatine altitudes designed to minimise this risk, low-level operations summation vulnerability.4. Operational oregon mechanical factors: Aircraft losses tin besides hap owed to mechanical failure, conflict harm affecting captious systems, oregon aviator ejection pursuing partial strategy loss.

What does Afghanistan have?

After the Taliban takeover successful August 2021, Afghanistan inherited subject instrumentality from the erstwhile Afghan National Defence and Security Forces. This included aircraft, helicopters, armoured vehicles, tiny arms and ammunition abandoned by US and NATO forces.Open-source assessments suggest Afghanistan possesses:

The United States near down billions of dollars’ worthy of subject instrumentality successful 2021. However, this did not see precocious long-range surface-to-air rocket systems. While determination is simply a anticipation that immoderate portable aerial defence weapons stay successful the country, determination are nary confirmed reports of Afghanistan operating a modern radar-guided rocket web susceptible of systematically targeting high-performance jets astatine extended range.

Is it technically possible?

In theory, immoderate combatant craft operating astatine debased altitude wrong scope of short-range aerial defence systems oregon MANPADS tin beryllium engaged. Portable infrared-guided missiles are designed to way vigor signatures from craft engines. If an F-16 were flying debased and wrong engagement range, determination could beryllium a theoretical anticipation of a palmy hit.However, specified outcomes beryllium connected aggregate factors:

Modern fighters are trained and equipped to minimise vulnerability to short-range threats.

What is the F-16 and however galore does Pakistan operate?

The F-16 Fighting Falcon is simply a single-engine, fourth-generation multirole combatant craft developed by the United States. Designed for some air-to-air combat and air-to-ground onslaught missions, it is known for its precocious manoeuvrability, precocious avionics and comparatively little operational outgo compared to heavier twin-engine fighters.

The craft is equipped with modern radar systems, beyond-visual-range rocket capability, precision-guided munitions compatibility, and physics warfare suites.

Over the decades, the F-16 has undergone aggregate upgrades, with newer variants featuring improved radar, targeting pods and enhanced survivability systems.Pakistan is 1 of the long-standing operators of the F-16. The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) inducted the craft successful the 1980s. Over time, it acquired aggregate batches, including earlier F-16A/B models and aboriginal F-16C/D Block 52 variants. Open-source defence assessments estimation that Pakistan operates astir 70 to 75 F-16 aircraft, though nonstop operational numbers tin alteration owed to attraction cycles and upgrades.The F-16 remains 1 of the astir susceptible platforms successful Pakistan’s fleet and is often described arsenic a cardinal plus for aerial defence and precision onslaught roles.