AWACS annihilated: India takes out Pakistan’s elite radar jet over Punjab  

What Happened During the India-Pakistan Air Clash on May 8? 

On the night of May 8, 2025, tensions between India and Pakistan escalated sharply after Indian air defense forces reportedly shot down a Pakistani Air Force Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft over Pakistan’s Punjab province. The incident followed a series of attempted missile and drone attacks launched by Pakistan on Indian military installations and civilian areas across Jammu and Kashmir, which were intercepted and neutralized by Indian forces. 

According to Indian defense officials, key military targets including stations in Jammu, Udhampur, and Pathankot were the intended recipients of Pakistani-origin aerial munitions. Multiple sirens and explosion reports came from border districts such as Akhnoor, Samba, Kupwara, and Baramulla as India activated its aerial surveillance network overnight. The Defence Ministry later confirmed that the threats were countered using a mix of kinetic and non-kinetic measures, as per pre-defined standard operating procedures. 

The most significant moment of the night reportedly occurred when Indian missile systems brought down a Pakistani AWACS aircraft — a critical strategic surveillance platform used for early warning, radar coverage, and aerial command and control operations. 

What Is an AWACS and Why Is It Critical in Air Warfare? 

AWACS stands for Airborne Warning and Control System, a radar-equipped aircraft designed to serve as a flying command centre in modern warfare. Distinguished by a dome-shaped rotodome mounted on its fuselage, the aircraft hosts long-range radar systems that provide 360-degree aerial surveillance. Unlike ground-based radars that are restricted by the Earth’s curvature, AWACS aircraft operate at high altitudes and can monitor vast swathes of airspace, often exceeding ranges of 350–400 km in all directions. 

Their primary role lies in detecting incoming threats such as enemy aircraft, drones, and missiles long before they appear on standard radar systems. These jets coordinate fighter responses in real time, track fast-moving aerial targets, and help secure airspace by acting as nerve centres for aerial battle management. In military doctrines worldwide, AWACS platforms are considered essential for air superiority and national security operations. 

How Do AWACS Systems Actually Work? 

AWACS aircraft function through a high-power radar mounted inside a rotodome that continuously rotates to scan the airspace in 360 degrees. The U.S.-made E-3 Sentry is a common benchmark example, featuring a 30-foot-wide radar capable of detecting targets hundreds of kilometres away, even at low altitudes or in complex terrains. 

The radar signals are processed onboard in real-time using advanced data fusion systems and mission computers. These insights are relayed to command centres or fighter aircraft, guiding them toward potential threats or changing battlefield dynamics. Communication systems aboard AWACS jets are hardened against jamming, interception, or cyber attacks, making them a reliable strategic resource during wartime. 

What Types of AWACS Does Pakistan Operate? 

As of early 2025, Pakistan’s active AWACS inventory comprises five Saab-2000 Erieye aircraft supplied by Sweden. These jets use Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar systems mounted on a dorsal radar spine, capable of tracking hundreds of targets simultaneously in hostile conditions. 

Previously, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) also operated four ZDK-03 Karakoram Eagle AWACS aircraft, a Chinese-made platform delivered in 2008. However, this fleet was reportedly phased out and retired from service by 2024, citing obsolescence and maintenance issues. 

Pakistan had expanded its Erieye fleet to compensate for the loss, acquiring an additional unit to replace earlier aircraft that were damaged or lost in previous border skirmishes. The loss of another Erieye jet in the May 8 clash could now significantly impact Pakistan’s ability to conduct real-time airspace monitoring and aerial coordination in the northern theatre. 

How Does This Impact the India-Pakistan Military Balance? 

The confirmed or reported downing of an AWACS aircraft marks a substantial blow to Pakistan’s surveillance and response capabilities. AWACS platforms are not only expensive—with each Saab-2000 Erieye reportedly valued upwards of $350 million—but also difficult to replace due to export restrictions, technological sensitivities, and lengthy production cycles. 

Losing such a high-value asset in an active military confrontation reduces Pakistan’s ability to detect incoming threats or coordinate fighter responses effectively. For India, which operates a mix of Phalcon AWACS (mounted on Il-76 aircraft) and DRDO’s indigenous Netra AEW&CS on Embraer jets, the event underscores a strategic superiority in the information and radar warfare domain. 

This incident also indicates a broader tactical evolution, where India is not merely intercepting threats but preemptively degrading Pakistan’s surveillance infrastructure. With border tensions having escalated under Operation Sindoor—a series of Indian retaliatory strikes against terror launchpads and military infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir—the focus has expanded to neutralizing high-value strategic assets. 

What Is Operation Sindoor and How Is It Connected? 

Operation Sindoor is the codename for India’s ongoing retaliatory military campaign launched after the Pahalgam terror attack that killed several tourists. The operation has included targeted drone strikes, airstrikes across the Line of Control (LoC), and surgical precision missions against terror camps and strategic Pakistani military assets. 

The reported targeting of the Pakistani AWACS aircraft falls within the broader strategic scope of Operation Sindoor, which aims to undermine Pakistan’s asymmetric warfare capabilities while asserting aerial and tactical superiority. This development marks a notable shift in India’s strategic posture—from restraint to preemptive and retaliatory targeting of key surveillance and control systems. 

What Are the Strategic Ramifications Going Forward? 

The downing of an AWACS platform raises important questions about escalation dynamics, especially between two nuclear-armed neighbours. Unlike typical skirmishes at the LoC, the targeting of strategic air assets deep inside national airspace represents a high-stakes shift. It signals a willingness on India’s part to engage in vertical escalation using sophisticated missile systems and real-time battlefield surveillance. 

International observers are now closely monitoring the situation for signs of further retaliation or diplomatic engagement. If verified, this attack not only reduces Pakistan’s aerial radar capabilities but may also trigger shifts in force posture, procurement strategies, and aerial doctrines across both nations. The incident could drive Pakistan to seek urgent replacements from Sweden, China, or other allied nations—although export controls may complicate procurement timelines. 

India’s success in targeting such a critical platform is also likely to strengthen domestic political backing for the ongoing operation while placing pressure on Pakistan’s military leadership to reassess air defense vulnerabilities. 

How Are AWACS Systems Redefining 21st Century Warfare? 

Beyond the immediate India-Pakistan conflict, the incident highlights the centrality of airborne surveillance in 21st-century warfare. AWACS jets, UAV-based AEW platforms, and even high-altitude balloon radars are increasingly becoming indispensable components of national security frameworks. Their ability to fuse battlefield information, control aerial engagements, and ensure airspace dominance makes them foundational to both offensive and defensive strategies. 

In a region as volatile as South Asia, where conventional and unconventional threats blur frequently, the race for airborne intelligence superiority is intensifying. The loss of one AWACS jet may be a tactical incident today—but it echoes a much larger battle for strategic control in tomorrow’s sky.