A Pakistan Air Force F-16 supersonic fighter jet was downed by an Indian surface-to-air missile (SAM) system during the evening hours, according to NDTV sources. The incident occurred against the backdrop of Pakistan’s unsuccessful bid to strike Jammu using drones and missiles.

The F-16, a key asset of Pakistan’s aerial fleet, had taken off from Sargodha airbase, a critical stronghold of the Pakistani Air Force. The jet was reportedly shot down near the same airbase by India’s missile defense, sources confirmed. The F-16, a cornerstone of Pakistan's fighter fleet alongside Chinese and French aircraft, is a US-manufactured jet that has been part of Pakistan’s arsenal since the late 1980s, undergoing multiple modernizations over the years.

Sargodha airbase, one of Pakistan’s most fortified military installations, is located in the Punjab province and has historically played a pivotal role in conflicts with India. This facility has been central to Pakistan’s offensive operations against India, notably during the 1965 and 1971 wars. Back in 1965, India’s No. 1 Squadron, flying Mystère aircraft from Adampur, launched strikes against Sargodha, which at that time housed the American-made F-104 Starfighter jets.

This latest shootdown marks the most significant military escalation between India and Pakistan since the 1971 conflict. In the aftermath of heightened tensions, several regions along the Rajasthan international border have been placed under blackout. The F-16 has seen action before in the region, notably during the 2019 post-Pulwama aerial skirmish when Indian MiG-21 pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman brought down a Pakistani F-16, marking the first aerial dogfight between the two nations in over four decades.