ISLAMABAD - One year after the historic Marka-e-Haq, the heroes of Pakistan Air Force's legendary No. 15 Squadron "Cobras" have stepped into the spotlight - sharing riveting, first-hand accounts of the aerial battle that saw Pakistan shoot down eight Indian fighter jets without losing a single aircraft.
Listen from the world’s best PAF pilots 🇵🇰🔥
- Zard si Gana (@ZardSi) May 8, 2026
Squadron Leaders and Wing Commanders of the J-10C from PAF No. 15 “Cobras” Squadron — as they share the intense moments when the PAF shot down 8 Indian jets during last year’s war. pic.twitter.com/hrMrdADmJp
In exclusive interactions following their formal recognition at the President's investiture ceremony, the elite J-10C pilots described the intense moments when Pakistan's air power shattered the myth of Indian aerial superiority.
The Squadron Leaders and Wing Commanders of No. 15 Squadron - operating from their home base at PAF Base Kamra, equipped with the Chinese-origin Chengdu J-10C - were the tip of the spear. Their confirmed kills during the 88-hour conflict read like a roll of honor for the PAF:
| Pilot (Rank & Name) | Aircraft Flown | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Wing Commander Bilal Raza | J-10C | Lead Interceptor |
| Wing Commander Hammad Ibn Masood | J-10C | Combat Air Patrol |
| Squadron Leader Muhammad Yousaf Khan | J-10C | Long-Range Engagement |
| Squadron Leader Usmanah Ashfaq | J-10C | Air Dominance |
| Squadron Leader Muhammad Hassan Anees | J-10C | Strike Leader |
| Squadron Leader Talal Hassan | J-10C | Tactical Support |
| Squadron Leader Fida Muhammad Khan | J-10C | BVR Specialist |
| Squadron Leader Muhammad Ashhad | J-10C | Close Support |
The squadron leadership - led by the current Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, who himself commanded the operations from the central command center - watched over the "Cobras" as they struck with unparalleled precision.
The operation, which targeted Indian Rafale, Sukhoi, Mirage, and MiG aircraft, was defined by one decisive factor: the PL-15 missile.
According to technical details revealed by Chinese state media (CCTV) and corroborated by Western analyses, the Indian Air Force made a lethal tactical error. Indian intelligence had estimated the range of the PL-15 air-to-air missile at a mere 150 kilometers, believing their jets could orbit safely beyond this perimeter.
They were off by dozens of kilometers.
"The enemy kept them at a distance they thought was safe," a senior PAF official noted, summarizing the engagement, "but the J-10C and the PL-15 turned their safety bubble into a kill box."
The missiles struck Indian jets from distances exceeding 200 kilometers - a range that Indian doctrine had not prepared for. Wing Commander Bilal Raza and his squadron didn't just intercept the enemy; they engaged in a "surgical ambush" from stand-off ranges where the Indian pilots had no means to retaliate.
While Pakistani pilots turned their attention to the next target, the Indian Air Force was left scrambling. Indian Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan later admitted that the IAF was "handicapped" for two days following the initial surprise strikes.
"Losses are a part of combat," Air Marshal A.K. Bharti conceded, confirming what Pakistan had already declared. For the "Cobras," those weren't just words; they were a confirmation of the 8-0 scoreline.
The heroics of the PAF did not go unnoticed by their strategic partner, China. In a rare move, AVIC - the state-owned manufacturer of the J-10CE - released a commemorative video on the anniversary, praising the men who fly their machines.
"We nurtured it, we cared for it, and handed it to the user," Xu Da, an AVIC engineer, said in a state documentary, "and when the test came, it delivered exactly as we knew it would."
The video highlighted how Chinese engineers worked tirelessly alongside PAF ground crews in scorching 50-degree heat to keep the jets mission-ready.
The No. 15 Squadron has a storied history dating back to 1956, having achieved the first kill in the PAF's history in 1959. Today, equipped with the 4.5+ generation J-10C, their motto - "هژدر شعلہ فشاں" (Fire-Spitting Cobras) - has never been more literal.
Their victory in May 2025 wasn't just about downing jets; it was about Total Air Superiority. By silencing the Indian S-400 air defense systems and eliminating the "game-changer" Rafale fleet, the "Cobras" ensured that no enemy ordnance fell on Pakistani soil during the conflict
