Six Pakistani aircraft – including five fighter jets and another large aircraft – were downed during Operation Sindoor, the Indian Air Force has confirmed, in their first big revelation of the extent of damage caused to the Pakistani side during the mega military offensive.
Besides the six aircraft that were hit mid-air, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh also confirmed the losses that the Pakistan Air Force suffered on the ground in the aerial strikes at Pakistan airbases. The “big bird” that was downed was an AEW&C (airborne early warning and control system), the loss of which dealt a massive blow to Pakistan’s air strength during the May 7 operation that followed Pahalgam attack.
“We have five confirmed kills and one large aircraft, which could be either an ELINT or an AEW&C aircraft, which was taken on at a distance of 300 kms. This is actually the largest ever recorded surface-to-air kill that we can talk about,” said the Air Chief Marshal at the annual 16th Air Chief Marshal LM Katre Lecture in Bengaluru.
Calling the Russian-made S-400 a “game-changer”, he said that Pakistan was unable to penetrate the surface-to-air missile system.
“Our air defence systems did a wonderful job. The S-400 system, which we had recently bought, has been a game-changer. The range of that system has really kept their aircraft away from their weapons like long-range glide bombs that they have. They have not been able to use any of those because they have not able to penetrate the system,” said the Air chief.
The IAF had also struck hangars in Jacobabad and Bholari in Pakistan. Some fighter jets, presumably the US-made F-16s, which were under maintenance at one of the hangars, were destroyed in the aerial strikes. In Bholari, another AEW&C aircraft is also believed to have been destroyed.
The Indian forces were able to cause so much damage that Pakistan realised that they would have to pay more if the conflict continued, said the Air Chief Marshall. This prompted the Pakistani side to seek a ceasefire, he added. The hostilites ended May 10.
Air Chief Marshal Singh also credited the political leadership for giving the forces the full freedom to plan and execute the attacks.
“A key reason for success was the presence of political will. There were very clear directions given to us. No restrictions were put on us. If there were any constraints, they were self-made. We decided how much to escalate. We had full freedom to plan and execute. Our attacks were calibrated because we wanted to be mature about it,” said Air Chief Marshall Singh.
He also shared ‘before and after’ satellite images of the terror targets that were struck during the May 7 attack. “Not only did we have satellite pictures, but also from local media, through which we could get inside pictures,” said the Chief of Air Staff, recalling that it was difficult to convince people without such evidence after the Balakot attack.
India had struck nine terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK), eliminating over a hundred terrorists, during Op Sindoor. The massive military operation was carried out in response to the April 22 Pahalgam massacre in which 26 innocent people were killed by Pakistan-linked terrorists.
