IAF Chief Reveals Striking Success of Operation Sindoor; Confirms Destruction of Pakistani Jets and Surveillance Aircraft

Bengaluru: In an unprecedented disclosure, Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh on Saturday detailed the scale of Pakistan’s aerial losses during Operation Sindoor, confirming that India’s air defence surface-to-air missile systems destroyed five Pakistani fighter jets, including parked F-16s in Jacobabad, and an AEW&C/ELINT surveillance aircraft in Bholari.

Speaking at the Air Chief Marshal L.M. Katre Memorial Lecture in Bengaluru, Singh said this was the first time an official had outlined in detail the damage inflicted on Pakistan’s aircraft and military platforms. The precision strikes, carried out as retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack, were preceded by careful target identification, with damage assessments verified using high-resolution satellite imagery.

“The AEW&C/ELINT was shot down from a range of 300 km. We had confirmed intelligence of terrorists being killed in our strikes,” Singh revealed. Reflecting on the lessons from the 2019 Balakot operation, he noted, “At Balakot, we could not convincingly communicate the scale of our achievement despite clear intelligence. This time, we took care of that ghost of Balakot—we showed the world exactly what we achieved.”

The IAF chief credited the success to “political will, clear directives, and the absence of operational restrictions,” adding that the recently inducted S-400 air defence system had been a “game-changer” in keeping Pakistani aircraft at bay and preventing the use of long-range glide bombs.

Target Selection Beyond Launchpads
Singh emphasised that the strikes were not confined to terrorist launchpads. “It was clear from the outset that we would send an emphatic message. We decided to target terror leadership and their infrastructure. Nine targets were selected, including headquarters in Bahawalpur and Muridke. Eight agencies and all three armed services were involved in planning and execution,” he said.

‘War Cannot Be Continuous’
Backing the government’s decision to halt operations after Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations approached for a ceasefire on May 10, Singh said the objective had been deterrence, not prolonged conflict.

“We cannot afford to be continuously at war. Once we achieved our objective—to teach terrorists a lesson—it was prudent to explore every window for ending hostilities. In just 80 to 90 hours of high-tech warfare, we caused damage significant enough for Pakistan to realise the cost of continuation. They knew if they pressed on, they would pay far more,” he remarked.

Singh added that some had urged further strikes, but “ego cannot dictate military strategy.” He stressed that air power had once again proven to be the first and most decisive form of response in modern conflict.