Gurugram, Haryana: Reports of Pakistan potentially receiving advanced US-made air-to-air missiles have sparked unease in Indian defense circles. Retired Maj Gen (Dr) G.D. Bakshi, a prominent military analyst, cautioned that the development could have serious implications for regional security.
“Pakistan’s F-16 fighter fleet already has AIM-120C beyond-visual-range (BVR) missiles, which they used during the clash with our MiG-21s in 2019, when Wing Commander Abhinandan was awarded the Vir Chakra,” Bakshi recalled. “At that time, India lacked comparable BVR capability and relied on outdated dogfight tactics, which led to losses. Today, however, we have highly effective BVR systems, and that makes a decisive difference in modern air combat.”
Bakshi emphasized that BVR technology allows a fighter jet to detect and strike an enemy aircraft before it is even visible to the naked eye. “That is why having a BVR range is critical,” he said, pointing to India’s indigenous Akash missile series: Akash-1, Akash-2, and the upcoming Akash-3, which is expected to have a range of 300 to 400 km.
According to ANI, Bakshi further warned: “This clearly shows that America is now on the verge of becoming an enemy of India. It is not only selling these missiles to Pakistan, but also to Saudi Arabia. Given the defense pact between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, there is a possibility that such weapons could be transferred to Pakistan during a conflict. We need to be mindful of this and exercise caution.”
These remarks highlight a growing sense of unease in New Delhi. India–US relations are seen as weakening in recent days, while Pakistan is making notable diplomatic gains including a defense pact with Saudi Arabia and a 2.5 billion USD missile contract with the US, following the May conflict with India where Pakistan claimed it shot down six Indian fighter jets including French-made Rafales.