Indo-Pacific

Latest in Indo-Pacific

North Korea Ship Launch

Aftermath Of Disastrous North Korean Frigate Launch Seen In Satellite Image Aftermath Of Disastrous North Korean Frigate Launch Seen In Satellite Image

By Thomas Newdick

Posted 1 Hour Ago

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 20: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office at the White House on May 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. President Trump announced his plans for the "Golden Dome," a national ballistic and cruise missile defense system. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Trump’s Golden Dome Missile Shield: What We Just Learned And Its Implications Trump’s Golden Dome Missile Shield: What We Just Learned And Its Implications

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway

Updated Yesterday

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Jordan Green, 67th Fighter Generation Squadron crew chief, marshals an F-15E Strike Eagle during an elephant walk at Kadena Air Base, Japan, May 6, 2025. Directly after, the 18th Wing generated real-time sorties to strengthen Kadena’s readiness to defend Japan. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman James Johnson)

Additional F-15E Strike Eagles Arrive In Diego Garcia Additional F-15E Strike Eagles Arrive In Diego Garcia

By Howard Altman

Updated on May 19, 2025

F-15s deploy to Diego Garcia to protect B-52s.

F-15s Deploy To Protect Diego Garcia F-15s Deploy To Protect Diego Garcia

By Joseph Trevithick, Tyler Rogoway, Howard Altman

Updated on May 17, 2025

As the dust settles, for now, on the latest clashes between India and Pakistan, it’s clear that the nations’ respective air forces played a very active role in the fighting. At this stage, details of what happened are still extremely hard to come by, with seemingly endless claims and counterclaims, especially around possible shootdowns, and very little in the way of verifiable facts about how the air-to-air engagements played out. However, many observers are already pointing to the potentially significant impact of the Pakistan Air Force’s Chinese-made Chengdu J-10C multirole fighters, as well as their vaunted PL-15 air-to-air missiles.

China’s J-10C Fighter: Separating Myth From Reality China’s J-10C Fighter: Separating Myth From Reality

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on May 15, 2025

Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) Lt General Rajiv Ghai with Air Marshal AK Bharti, Vice Admiral AN Pramod during a press conference on 'Operation Sindoor' at National Media Centre, on May 12, 2025 in New Delhi, India. Senior officers from the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force addressed the nation, revealing details of Operation Sindoor, a coordinated military strike carried out on May 7 targeting terror bases in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Punjab province. Officers confirmed that over 100 terrorists were killed during the operation. The strikes were launched in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 people.

Claims Swirl As India And Pakistan Assess Results Of Latest Conflict Claims Swirl As India And Pakistan Assess Results Of Latest Conflict

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on May 13, 2025

TOPSHOT - An employee handles 155 mm caliber shells after the manufacturing process at the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant (SCAAP) in Scranton, Pennsylvania on April 16, 2024. In brick buildings that are more than a century old, nearly in the heart of Joe Biden's Rust Belt hometown of Scranton, Pennsylvania, dated machinery churns artillery for modern conflicts, especially the war in Ukraine. The Scranton Army Ammunition Plant (SCAAP) is making steel tubes for 155 mm caliber shells, which are crucial to Kyiv's efforts to face down Moscow's invasion. (Photo by Charly TRIBALLEAU / AFP) (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images)

Shell Game: Inside The Worldwide TNT Shortage Shell Game: Inside The Worldwide TNT Shortage

By Howard Altman

Updated on May 12, 2025

Chinese-Made PL-15 Air-To-Air Missile Components Came Down Intact Inside India

Chinese-Made PL-15 Air-To-Air Missile Components Came Down Intact Inside India Chinese-Made PL-15 Air-To-Air Missile Components Came Down Intact Inside India

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on May 9, 2025

Satellite imagery indicates that there are now 10 U.S. heavy bombers – six stealthy B-2s and four B-52s – on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.

B-52s Join B-2s On Diego Garcia,10 Bombers Now At Indian Ocean Island B-52s Join B-2s On Diego Garcia,10 Bombers Now At Indian Ocean Island

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on May 8, 2025

Pakistan claims it downed more than two dozen Israeli-made Harop drones as the conflict with India intensifies.

Israeli-Made Harop Attack Drones Launched By India By The Dozens, Pakistan Claims Israeli-Made Harop Attack Drones Launched By India By The Dozens, Pakistan Claims

By Howard Altman

Updated on May 8, 2025

Reports of the air war that’s been taking place between India and Pakistan in recent days suggest what may well be the most intense series of aerial engagements for decades. While it’s still very hard to obtain confirmed details of this combat, which some sources state has involved more than a hundred fighters simultaneously, we do, at least, know what kinds of air-to-air missiles (AAMs) are available to the Indian and Pakistan Air Forces.

The Air-To-Air Missiles That Equip India And Pakistan’s Fighters The Air-To-Air Missiles That Equip India And Pakistan’s Fighters

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on May 8, 2025

A U.S. Air Force AC-130J Ghostrider flies over the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Jan. 31, 2025. Designed for close air support, air interdiction and armed reconnaissance, the AC-130J provides CENTCOM forces an expeditionary, direct-fire platform with 30mm and 105mm cannons. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Gerald R. Willis)

Harpoon Anti-Ship Missile-Armed AC-130J Gunships Could Be On The Horizon Harpoon Anti-Ship Missile-Armed AC-130J Gunships Could Be On The Horizon

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 8, 2025

The air war currently unfolding between India and Pakistan is exceedingly murky, but one aspect that seems almost certain is the use of the Chinese-made PL-15 active-radar-guided air-to-air missile (AAM) by Pakistan. So far, Pakistan claims to have shot down five Indian aircraft and at least one Indian official has reportedly confirmed the crash of three aircraft but cautioned that the reasons were not clear. Unverified imagery suggests that one of the Indian Air Force’s prized Rafale multirole fighters may have been shot down. Regardless, the fighting between the two nuclear-armed states is the most intense for decades, now with the growing risk of the situation spiraling further out of control.

China’s PL-15 Air-To-Air Missile Appears To Have Been Used In Combat For The First Time China’s PL-15 Air-To-Air Missile Appears To Have Been Used In Combat For The First Time

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on May 7, 2025

India Strikes, Pakistan Responds, Claims Of Aircraft Losses Mount (Updated)

News & Features

India Strikes, Pakistan Responds, Claims Of Aircraft Losses Mount (Updated) India Strikes, Pakistan Responds, Claims Of Aircraft Losses Mount (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 6, 2025

Can The OA-1K Skyraider II Actually Be Useful In A Pacific Fight?

Can The OA-1K Skyraider II Actually Be Useful In A Pacific Fight? Can The OA-1K Skyraider II Actually Be Useful In A Pacific Fight?

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 6, 2025

The planned live-fire sinking of a decommissioned warship at the Balikatan exercise in the Philippines was struck a blow after the ship in question sunk before navies had a chance to pummel it with weapons. The World War II-era corvette BRP Miguel Malvar (PS-19) was being positioned at the start of the exercise, which continued regardless, including other live-fire events.

Ship Sinks Just Before Being Pummeled With Weapons In Pacific Exercise Ship Sinks Just Before Being Pummeled With Weapons In Pacific Exercise

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on May 5, 2025