Let’s assume an IAF jet goes down in hostile territory and the pilot ejects into rugged, unpopulated terrain, same as the USAF F15 pilot incident, how would we conduct CSAR in that scenario? Are Garud commandos equipped or competent for this role?
I’ve been thinking about a hypothetical scenario and wanted to understand how things would realistically play out..
Let’s assume an IAF jet crosses into hostile territory during a strike mission and gets shot down. The pilot ejects successfully, but lands in rugged, uneven terrain far from populated areas. Unlike the 2019 situation, let’s assume the pilot isn’t immediately captured and has some time on the ground.
During the 2019 Balakot aftermath, we weren’t able to recover our pilot before he was captured. While that situation had its own constraints, it does raise questions about our rapid response capability in denied environments.
In such a case, how would India conduct a CSAR (Combat Search and Rescue) operation? How would coordination work in contested airspace where enemy air defenses are active?
Also, how prepared are our forces, especially Garud commandos, for such high-risk CSAR missions deep inside hostile territory? From what is publicly known, do they train and operate at a level comparable to dedicated CSAR units like those seen in other air forces?