The military aviation world was shaken after three advanced Indian Air Force Rafale fighter jets were downed by long-range air-to-air missiles launched from Chinese-made Pakistani jets. According to Pakistani sources, one Indian jet was shot down from 184 km away—far beyond its own engagement range.
This event underscored a critical truth: the key to air dominance lies not only in the aircraft but in the weapon systems they carry. This echoes the 1982 Lebanon War, where Israel downed nearly 90 Syrian jets without a single Israeli loss, thanks to long-range air-to-air missiles.
In response to recent events and to maintain its technological edge, Israel offered its new Sky Sting missile to India—its largest defense customer. This cutting-edge missile has a significantly longer range than Pakistan’s arsenal.
Sky Sting, developed by Israel’s Rafael, is a 6th-generation long-range air-to-air missile with an operational range of up to 250 km. Its advanced tri-pulse rocket motor maintains speed and energy throughout flight, and it features: