(Web Desk) - The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) is commemorating a landmark air defence operation carried out on June 7, 2002, when it shot down an Israeli-made Indian surveillance drone that had violated Pakistani airspace near Lahore during a period of heightened tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
The incident occurred against the backdrop of the 2001-02 military standoff between Pakistan and India following an attack on the Indian Parliament in December 2001. The crisis, known as Operation Parakram, saw both countries deploy large numbers of troops along their borders, raising international concerns about the possibility of a wider conflict.
According to the PAF, an Indian Air Force Searcher Mk II reconnaissance drone, manufactured in Israel, entered Pakistani territory on the night of June 7, 2002. The unmanned aircraft was designed for surveillance missions and featured a small radar signature, low speed and low-altitude flight profile, making it difficult to detect.
PAF officials said air defence operators successfully identified and tracked the drone despite the challenging conditions. After confirming the airspace violation, the Air Force's command centre ordered an interception mission.
An F-16 fighter jet from No. 9 Squadron was scrambled, piloted by Squadron Leader Zulfiqar Ayub with Squadron Leader Afzal Awan serving as navigator. Guided by ground-based radar controllers, the aircraft located the drone during the night operation.
After visually identifying the target, the F-16 fired an AIM-9L Sidewinder infrared-guided missile, which struck and destroyed the drone. The wreckage fell inside Pakistani territory and was later recovered.
The operation is a milestone in Pakistan military aviation history, as it marked the first known instance of a fighter aircraft shooting down a drone at night using a heat-seeking missile.
Military analysts note that detecting and engaging a small, slow-moving unmanned aircraft under nighttime conditions was considered a significant technical and operational achievement at the time.
While India has never formally confirmed details of the mission, the incident remains one of the most notable air defence operations in Pakistan Air Force history and is frequently cited as an example of effective aerial surveillance and border protection capabilities