Bengaluru, Aug 9: In a major disclosure, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh announced today that the Indian Air Force (IAF) downed five Pakistani fighter jets and a large surveillance aircraft during Operation Sindoor, marking one of the most significant blows to Pakistan’s air fleet in recent years.
Speaking at the Air Marshal Katre Annual Lecture in Bengaluru, the IAF chief said the “big bird” was likely an Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft or an electronic intelligence platform. He credited the S-400 air defence system for the successful aerial kills.
Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7 in retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians, targeted nine high-value terror sites, including the Bahawalpur headquarters of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). Singh showcased before-and-after satellite imagery, noting minimal collateral damage despite the precision strikes.
According to the Air Chief, the coordinated offensive eliminated over 100 terrorists, with confirmation drawn from satellite data and corroborating local media visuals. “The adjacent buildings are intact… We had both space-based and ground-level confirmation of the damage,” he said.
The revelation underscores the strategic depth and precision capabilities of the IAF, with Op Sindoor emerging as a decisive response in India’s counterterrorism and air defence operations.
