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Express Tribune
04-06-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Pak airspace ban costs Air India Rs8.2b
Pakistan Air Force J-10C fighter jets perform at a rehearsal ahead of Pakistan's national day parade in Islamabad on March 21, 2024. (Photo by Aamir QURESHI / AFP via Getty Images) AAMIR QURESHI As the airspace ban Pakistan slapped on Indian carriers drags on for forty days, the cost for Air India is turning from heavy to near-unsustainable, aviation sources said on Wednesday. The Indian national carrier has already taken a hit of over Rs8.2 billion since the closure began. According to well-placed aviation insiders, Air India is bleeding approximately Rs200 million each day due to longer alternate routes, increased fuel consumption and delays triggered by the airspace detour. In a sign of rising frustration, Air India's Chief Executive Officer Campbell Wilson has formally written to the Indian government, highlighting the scale of financial damage. In the letter, Wilson reportedly warned that continued restrictions could render airline operations unsustainable if not addressed soon. According to The Economic Times, an internal presentation showed that Air India had, late last year, set a target to become profitable by FY 27. However, the closure of Pakistani airspace for Indian carriers is likely to delay that. "It will still take a little bit more time to achieve what we want to achieve, but it was a five-year project in the beginning," Wilson said in the interview to the Economic Times, referring to the five-year transformation plan 'Vihaan' announced in September 2022. "The closure of Pakistani airspace, which started on April 24, has forced Air India's flights to North America to take detours and stop in Vienna or Copenhagen to refuel, leading to increased expenses," the report noted. "It's not insignificant, but as long as it covers the cost of operation, we will continue to operate," Wilson said. "We don't know the extent to which the bottom line is going to be affected. We will try to minimise the effect." The CEO's concerns are not limited to Air India alone. Other Indian carriers have also reportedly suffered billions of rupees in cumulative losses, though precise estimates remain undisclosed. "This isn't just turbulence, it's a full-blown storm for Indian aviation," a senior aviation official remarked, noting that the 40-day closure has upended flight logistics, increased operational costs, and complicated international schedules for Indian carriers. The airspace restrictions, which came into effect in the wake of heightened diplomatic tensions, have now completed 40 days, with no breakthrough in sight. For airlines forced to circumvent Pakistani airspace, the sky is not only the limit but also a costly detour. As the ban continues, industry experts warn that Indian carriers might soon be compelled to cut routes or hike fares, passing the burden onto passengers, unless diplomatic channels find a way to clear the air.
Express Tribune
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Chinese PL-15 vs French Rafale: Proxy clash hints at deeper China-West military rivalry
Pakistan Air Force J-10C fighter jets perform at a rehearsal ahead of Pakistan's national day parade in Islamabad on March 21, 2024. (Photo by Aamir QURESHI / AFP via Getty Images) AAMIR QURESHI Listen to article The recent escalation between Pakistan and India, which brought both nuclear-armed neighbours to the brink of full-scale war, marked a significant shift in the nature of warfare between the two countries. For the first time, French-made 4.5 gen Rafale fighter jets operated by India were downed in combat. Unlike previous conflicts, Pakistan did not rely on US-supplied weaponry, while India has increasingly shifted from Russian arms to equipment sourced from Western countries. The development is viewed not just as a Pakistan-India engagement, but as a real-world proxy test of Chinese versus Western military technology—potentially fuelling new competition in the global arms market and drawing diplomatic attention from Paris, Washington, and NATO-aligned states. Several analysts have highlighted the air force engagements, with some pointing to the possible role of Chinese-supplied PL-15 air-to-air missiles perhaps being the difference-maker. Images shared on social media show a section of the missile's fuselage with visible serial markings and a seeker test port. Another image appears to show the missile's seeker head, equipped with an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, known for improved tracking and resistance to jamming. So 1st Use of PL-15 Very Long Range Air to Air Missile by PAF. — International Defence Analysis (@Defence_IDA) May 7, 2025 Confirmed Indian Air Force 🇫🇷-made Dassault Rafale lost. Was it shot down using 🇨🇳-made PL-15 air-to-air missile ? Or 🇨🇳-made HQ-9BE air defense system ? — MenchOsint (@MenchOsint) May 7, 2025 Air-to-air PL-15 missile The PL-15, developed by China's Aviation Industry Corporation (AVIC), is a long-range, radar-guided missile designed to engage high-value airborne targets at ranges exceeding 200 kilometres. PL-15 is China's standard active-radar-guided AAM, and it was intended to at least match the performance of the US-made AIM-120D Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM). Screen grab Its export version, the PL-15E, is reported to have a maximum range of 145 kilometres and is integrated with Pakistan's JF-17 Block III and J-10CE fighters. The domestic version in use of the Chinese military has a reported range of between 300-500 kilometers. South Asian combat theatre The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) released visuals on April 26 showing JF-17s armed with PL-15E and PL-10 missiles. Pakistan's fleet includes an estimated 45–50 JF-17 Block IIIs and 20 J-10CEs—approximately 70 aircraft capable of deploying the PL-15E. The missile's guidance system includes inertial navigation, Beidou satellite updates, a two-way datalink, and AESA radar terminal homing. It features a dual-pulse solid rocket motor and can reach speeds exceeding Mach 5. The warhead, typically high-explosive fragmentation, weighs between 20 to 25 kilograms. The weapon may have been sourced directly from China's People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), a claim not independently verified. India's air force, meanwhile, relies on Rafales equipped with Meteor missiles, Su-30MKIs with R-77s, and S-400 SAM systems. PL-15's range may allow Pakistani fighters to launch from beyond India's engagement envelopes. While Pakistan officially confirmed the use of Chinese-made J-10C fighter jets from Chengdu in the downing of Indian Rafales, it has not specified the munitions used. However, fragments of a PL-15 missile were reportedly recovered from a field near Hoshiarpur in India's Punjab state, potentially marking the first known use of the Chinese missile in active combat. The development comes after two US officials told Reuters that a Chinese-made Pakistani fighter aircraft was responsible for shooting down at least two Indian military jets, underscoring a major operational milestone for Beijing's advanced fighter systems. A senior French intelligence official also confirmed to CNN that at least one IAF Dassault Rafale jet had been downed during the skirmish with the Pakistan Air Force. The debris discovery adds pressure to regional air defence planning and underscores shifting dynamics in South Asia's arms landscape. India's diversified procurement contrasts with Pakistan's increasingly centralised reliance on Chinese systems. Chinese state media have highlighted the PL-15E's export readiness and advanced production lines. The system's presence in an active conflict may provide China with operational feedback and expand its influence in the global arms market. Neither China nor Pakistan has commented on the missile's appearance. The deployment of the Chinese-made PL-15 missile in South Asia presents a direct technological counter to Western systems like the US AIM-120D AMRAAM and France's Meteor missile. While the Meteor is widely regarded as superior in terms of no-escape zones and sustained propulsion via ramjet, the PL-15's longer range and advanced AESA guidance give it a strategic edge in first-launch scenarios—particularly when fired from standoff ranges.
