IAF Chief confirms India shot down five Pakistani jets, one surveillance aircraft during Operation Sindoor

In a detailed address delivered during the 16th Air Chief Marshal L.M. Katre Memorial Lecture in Bengaluru, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh disclosed for the first time that India successfully shot down five Pakistani fighter jets and one large airborne surveillance aircraft during Operation Sindoor, which took place in May 2025.

This marks the first official public count of enemy aircraft neutralised during the operation.

The surveillance aircraft, suspected to be an Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) or ELINT platform, was taken down at an unprecedented range of 300 kilometres, making it “the largest ever recorded surface-to-air kill.”

Marshal Singh credited India’s S-400 Triumf air defense system as the game-changing element behind the success of these operations.

He explained that the system’s extended range prevented Pakistani aircraft from deploying long-range glide bombs, neutralizing their aerial threat effectively.

Additionally, the operation struck deep into Pakistan’s air capabilities. The air chief revealed that key infrastructure—including F-16 aircraft in maintenance, command and control centres at Murid and Chaklala, and multiple radar installations—were either damaged or destroyed.

These targeted strikes reportedly prompted Pakistan to seek a ceasefire after three days of intense hostilities.

Operation Sindoor marked a pivotal moment in Indian aerial warfare, demonstrating not only technological prowess but also strategic depth and precision.

The revelations underline the IAF’s ability to execute controlled, high-impact operations while maintaining escalation control.