6 Pak Aircraft Shot Down in Op Sindoor: IAF
9 Aug 2025 1:50 PM IST9 Aug 2025 1:50 PM IST
The Air Chief revealed the information about India's damage to Pakistan's defence capabilities, while addressing an event at the Hal Management Academy
Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh (PTI)
New Delhi: In one of the largest-ever recorded surface-to-air kills, Indian Air Force (IAF) chief Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh on Saturday said that India’s S-400 air defence system shot down five Pakistani fighter jets and one large military aircraft, either an airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) or an electronic intelligence gathering aircraft, during Operation Sindoor.
During air strikes on May 9-10 targeting airbases across Pakistan, IAF missiles also destroyed several F-16 fighter jets parked at Jacobabad air base and a Saab Erieye AEW&C aircraft at the Bholari air base.
“We have at least five confirmed fighter kills and one large aircraft, which could be either an ELINT or an AEW&C aircraft, engaged at a distance of about 300 km. This is actually the largest-ever recorded surface-to-air kill that we can talk about,” said Air Chief Marshal Singh at the 16th Air Chief Marshal L.M. Katre Memorial Lecture in Bengaluru.
This marks the first official confirmation of the damage inflicted on Pakistan during the Indian strikes over three months ago.
“We were able to hit at least two command and control centres, Murid and Chaklala, as well as six radars, some large and some small. We also targeted two surface-to-air guided weapon (SAGW) systems in Lahore and Okara, and attacked three hangars: the Sukkur UAV hangar, the Bholari hangar, and the Jacobabad F-16 hangar. We have indications of at least one AEW&C in that hangar and several F-16s undergoing maintenance there,” he said, listing the damage to Pakistani military assets.
The Air Force chief credited the success of Operation Sindoor to the presence of strong political will. “There was very clear political will, very clear directions, and no restrictions placed on us. Full freedom was given to plan and execute. The forces decided our own rules of engagement, the escalation ladder we would follow, and how to control the escalation. Our attacks were calibrated because we wanted to act with maturity,” he emphasised.
On the operation’s objectives, Singh said, “Our aim was clear, to teach terrorists a lesson so they think twice before acting. Once we achieved those objectives, we looked for opportunities to end hostilities rather than prolong them.”
He added that, unlike Balakot in 2019, the armed forces were able to provide proof of the strikes this time. “In Balakot, we could not present internal evidence, even though we had intelligence showing significant damage and terrorist casualties. This time, we were able to dispel that ghost by showing the world what we achieved,” he said.
Calling the Russian-made S-400 surface-to-air missile system a “game-changer,” the Air Chief noted that Pakistan was unable to penetrate India’s air defence network. “The range of the system kept Pakistani aircraft and UAVs away from our defences,” he said.
Regarding the strike on Pakistan’s Sargodha air base, Singh remarked, “We have grown up in the Air Force dreaming of days like this. It so happened I got the chance before my retirement. We attacked the airfield based on hard intelligence about F-16s stationed there.”
Recalling the May 9-10 offensive, Singh said: “That night, we held nothing back. We decided to attack across the front to stretch their resources. The idea was not to decimate one airfield but to demonstrate we could strike deep inside, at will, wherever we chose.”
Displaying before-and-after images of the attack on the Muridke Lashkar-e-Tayyaba headquarters, he said, “This included their senior leadership’s residential area and office buildings where they held meetings. We could capture video from the weapons themselves as the target was within range.”
He also credited the post of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) with improving operational coordination. “The CDS was always there to bring us together and resolve issues. We could approach the senior leadership whenever required,” he said.
Singh further highlighted the role of National Security Adviser Ajit Doval in bringing agencies and forces together during the operation. Military chiefs, he said, had discussed in detail the potential outcomes and India’s responses before launching the strikes.
On the lessons learned, Singh concluded: “The biggest takeaway has been the reaffirmation of air power’s primacy. Air warfare is the first responder for any nation, capable of reacting quickly, striking deep with precision, and achieving objectives without collateral damage.”
“We have at least five confirmed fighter kills and one large aircraft, which could be either an ELINT or an AEW&C aircraft, engaged at a distance of about 300 km. This is actually the largest-ever recorded surface-to-air kill that we can talk about,” said Air Chief Marshal Singh at the 16th Air Chief Marshal L.M. Katre Memorial Lecture in Bengaluru.
This marks the first official confirmation of the damage inflicted on Pakistan during the Indian strikes over three months ago.
“We were able to hit at least two command and control centres, Murid and Chaklala, as well as six radars, some large and some small. We also targeted two surface-to-air guided weapon (SAGW) systems in Lahore and Okara, and attacked three hangars: the Sukkur UAV hangar, the Bholari hangar, and the Jacobabad F-16 hangar. We have indications of at least one AEW&C in that hangar and several F-16s undergoing maintenance there,” he said, listing the damage to Pakistani military assets.
The Air Force chief credited the success of Operation Sindoor to the presence of strong political will. “There was very clear political will, very clear directions, and no restrictions placed on us. Full freedom was given to plan and execute. The forces decided our own rules of engagement, the escalation ladder we would follow, and how to control the escalation. Our attacks were calibrated because we wanted to act with maturity,” he emphasised.
On the operation’s objectives, Singh said, “Our aim was clear, to teach terrorists a lesson so they think twice before acting. Once we achieved those objectives, we looked for opportunities to end hostilities rather than prolong them.”
He added that, unlike Balakot in 2019, the armed forces were able to provide proof of the strikes this time. “In Balakot, we could not present internal evidence, even though we had intelligence showing significant damage and terrorist casualties. This time, we were able to dispel that ghost by showing the world what we achieved,” he said.
Calling the Russian-made S-400 surface-to-air missile system a “game-changer,” the Air Chief noted that Pakistan was unable to penetrate India’s air defence network. “The range of the system kept Pakistani aircraft and UAVs away from our defences,” he said.
Regarding the strike on Pakistan’s Sargodha air base, Singh remarked, “We have grown up in the Air Force dreaming of days like this. It so happened I got the chance before my retirement. We attacked the airfield based on hard intelligence about F-16s stationed there.”
Recalling the May 9-10 offensive, Singh said: “That night, we held nothing back. We decided to attack across the front to stretch their resources. The idea was not to decimate one airfield but to demonstrate we could strike deep inside, at will, wherever we chose.”
Displaying before-and-after images of the attack on the Muridke Lashkar-e-Tayyaba headquarters, he said, “This included their senior leadership’s residential area and office buildings where they held meetings. We could capture video from the weapons themselves as the target was within range.”
He also credited the post of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) with improving operational coordination. “The CDS was always there to bring us together and resolve issues. We could approach the senior leadership whenever required,” he said.
Singh further highlighted the role of National Security Adviser Ajit Doval in bringing agencies and forces together during the operation. Military chiefs, he said, had discussed in detail the potential outcomes and India’s responses before launching the strikes.
On the lessons learned, Singh concluded: “The biggest takeaway has been the reaffirmation of air power’s primacy. Air warfare is the first responder for any nation, capable of reacting quickly, striking deep with precision, and achieving objectives without collateral damage.”
( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
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