India’s Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh for the first time confirmed that India has shot down five Pakistani fighter jets and one wither AEW&C or ELINT aircraft during Operation Sindoor. India on the intervening night of 6th and 7th May conducted precision surgical strikes targeting terror infrastructure deep inside Pakistan to avenge the April 22nd Pahalgam terror attack.
Shailesh Kumar, National Defence
New Delhi, 09 August 2025
The IAF’s offensive plan that night, Air Chief Singh revealed, was to strike across multiple fronts to stretch enemy resources. Strategic targets included the Bholari air base — where an AEW&C hangar was hit — Shahbaz Jacobabad airfield, which houses F-16 fighters, and key command-and-control hubs at Murid and Chaklala. “We were able to get at least two command-and-control centres, six radars, and damage to several aircraft, including F-16s under maintenance,” Air Chief confirmed.
In one of the operation’s most symbolic strikes, the IAF also targeted Sargodha, long considered a prized PAF base. “We’ve grown up in the Air Force dreaming about days like this… it just so happened that I got my chance just before I retired,” the Air Chief recounted.
Air Chief during the ACM LM Katre memorial lecture at HAL premise in Bengaluru said that the Pakistani jets & AEW&C were shot down utilizing the S-400 air defence systems. This perhaps would make the largest kill by an air defense system in just a short while. Let me quote you what our war hero air chief marshal AP Singh said,
“We have at least five fighters confirmed kills and one large aircraft which could be either an Elint aircraft or an AWNC aircraft which was taken out at a distance of about 300 kilometers.
This is the actually largest ever recorded surface to air kill that we can talk about. And apart from of course this there are a large number of UAVs, drones, there some of their missiles which have fallen in our territory.
We have recovered lot of wreckage from this which now is being studied so that we can make out what did they do, where were they launched from, what route did they follow, what kind of system do they have, whether they have you know what I mean to say what generation those systems belong to, what all features do they have. So that study is going on and it is going on even uh in coordination with DRDO. If required we will also take some other industries help for that.
You would recall that after the operation Sindoor was launched on May 7, India did confirm that some high-tech Pakistani Air Force jets were shot down. Infact, I myself asked our war hero Air Marshal AK Bharti, director general air operations at first DGMO press briefing post Op Sindoor about the numbers of Pakistani fighter jets shot down by us. Answering me Air Marshal Bharti had said back then that India was trying to get into the technical details to establish the exact number but indeed he did confirm some High Tech aircraft. Air Marshal Bharti said, “We don’t have the wreckage as their (PAF) planes were prevented from entering our airspace. But we have downed a few planes”.
As the Air Chief Marshal AP Singh confirmed the number of Pak jets shot down, he said India rendered such a huge blow to Pakistan’s air defence systems that the Pakistan realised it would lose more if the conflict continued. He said,
“So I can say that it was you know more of the high-tech war which was fought in about 80- 90 hours of war. We were able to achieve you know so much of damage to their system that it was very clear in their mind that in this current situation if they continue they are going to continue paying for it more and more.
So they have come forward and you know sent a message again through DGMO and which was accepted from our side and when I say our side is not just the air force it’s the joint decision that was taken and it was taken even at the highest level”
Air Chief Marshal also said that India was able to get control of at least two of Pakistan’s command and control centres, like Murid and Chaklala. “At least six radars, some of them big, some of them small…We have an indication of at least one AEW&C in that AEW&C hangar and a few F-16s, which were under maintenance there.
Now you would recall that US President Donald Trump recently I believe on 19th July had claimed that five fighter jets were lost during the India-Pakistan conflict. He however, did not mention whether the jets were Indian or Pakistani. President Trump time and again at least I counted over 30 times claimed credit for brokering a ceasefire between the India and Pakistan. However, Government of India rejected Trump’s claims attributing ceasefire to DGMO talks initiated with request first from Pakistan’s DGMO. Infact, I did asked White House requesting President Trump to offer proofs or evidence for his claims but White House has never answered till date.
Air Chief Marshal Singh also appreciated the newly created position of Chief of Defense Staff for integration and better synergy and coordination between the three forces. He also appreciated the role of National Security Advisor Ajit Doval for guidance and bringing in all agencies together for better coordination.
Air Chief was speaking at the 16th edition of the Air Chief Marshal LM Katre Memorial Lecture at the HAL Management Academy Auditorium, Bengaluru. The event was organised by the Air Force Association, Karnataka Branch, in collaboration with HAL Bengaluru to reflect on the enduring legacy of Air Chief Marshal LM Katre and his lasting impact on Indian aviation. The gathering comprised of veterans and personnel from Indian Air Force, HAL, DRDO, and allied aerospace industries.
He attributed success of Op Sindoor to a clear cut political will and decision to terminate the operation when objectives are met. National Defense salutes ACM AP Singh, air warriors, all soldiers and officers of armed forces, our agency people who work behind the scenes without caring for their live and glamour of media. We also salute our scientists, engineers who work day and night to keep our nation safe. Our armed forces fight for peace. Hope Pakistan now once again understands the relevance of peace and stay away from any subvertive activities against India in letter and spirit.
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