IAF Chief Reveals Extent of Pakistan’s Losses in Operation Sindoor
Bengaluru, 9th August 2025: Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief, Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh, has for the first time publicly detailed the scale of damage inflicted on Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, disclosing that the IAF neutralised five Pakistani fighter jets and a large airborne surveillance aircraft. This official confirmation comes two months after the high-stakes operation.
Delivering the 16th Air Chief Marshal L.M. Katre Memorial Lecture in Bengaluru, ACM Singh credited the success to India’s newly inducted S-400 surface-to-air missile system, calling it a “game-changer in contemporary aerial combat.” The IAF chief also released photographs from the mission, marking the first visual evidence of Pakistan’s losses.
Singh revealed that on May 10, IAF strikes targeted key Pakistani military assets, including the Jacobabad airbase, which housed U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets. Several of these aircraft were destroyed in the precision strikes.
“Our integrated air defence network functioned flawlessly,” Singh said. “The S-400 system ensured that Pakistani aircraft could not get close enough to deploy their long-range glide bombs, effectively neutralising their strike capability.”
Neutralising Aerial Threats:
The operation also saw the IAF down a significant number of Pakistani UAVs and drones. Some enemy missiles landed inside Indian territory, and their debris has been collected for technical evaluation.
“We are analysing these fragments to map launch origins, flight profiles, weapon systems, and performance parameters,” Singh noted.
However, this briefing stands as the most detailed official account of Pakistan’s aerial losses in Operation Sindoor, underscoring both India’s offensive prowess and its enhanced air defence posture.
