New Delhi: The Indian Air Force (IAF) has confirmed that 6 Pakistani aircraft shot down during Operation Sindoor, marking the first official disclosure of the extensive damage inflicted on Pakistan in the large-scale military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
Among the destroyed aircraft were five fighter jets and one large AEW&C (Airborne Early Warning and Control) aircraft, a crucial element of Pakistan’s air surveillance capabilities. Air Chief Marshal AP Singh revealed that the AEW&C was taken down from 300 km away on May 7 — one of the longest recorded surface-to-air kills.
IAF’s Record Strike with S-400 Defence System
Speaking at the 16th Air Chief Marshal LM Katre Lecture in Bengaluru, Singh hailed the Russian-made S-400 missile system as a “game-changer” that prevented Pakistan from launching long-range attacks. He said the enemy’s attempts to penetrate Indian air defence were unsuccessful, keeping their aircraft away from strike range.
The IAF also struck hangars in Jacobabad and Bholari, destroying several US-made F-16s under maintenance and another AEW&C aircraft. Singh said these strikes, along with the aerial engagements, were a key reason Pakistan sought a ceasefire on May 10, fearing heavier losses if the conflict escalated.
The Air Chief credited the government’s clear directives and unrestricted operational freedom for the success of Operation Sindoor. He also displayed before-and-after satellite images of the nine terror targets destroyed in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, which reportedly eliminated over 100 terrorists.
Operation Sindoor was launched as a direct retaliation to the Pahalgam massacre, in which 26 civilians were killed by Pakistan-linked terrorists.
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