India Shoots Down 5 Pakistani Fighter Jets, Surveillance Aircraft In Operation Sindoor: IAF Chief

In his first official remarks on the outcome of Operation Sindoor, Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh confirmed on Saturday that Indian air defence systems, including the newly inducted S-400 missile system, shot down five Pakistani fighter jets and one large surveillance aircraft on May 7.

Speaking at the 16th Air Chief Marshal L M Katre Memorial Lecture in Bengaluru today, Singh described the operation as a decisive display of India’s air defence capabilities.

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He said the surveillance aircraft, likely an ELINT or an AEW&C platform, was destroyed from a distance of about 300 km, making it the largest-ever recorded surface-to-air kill.

Apart from the confirmed aerial kills, Singh said several unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and drones were also intercepted. Some missile fragments landed in Indian territory, and the wreckage is being analysed to determine their origin, flight path, and technical specifications.

Satellite and local media images confirmed significant damage to key Pakistani military installations, including the Jaish-e-Mohammed headquarters in Bahawalpur, with minimal collateral damage to surrounding structures, he said.

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The IAF chief also highlighted strikes on major Pakistani air bases, including Shahbaz Jacobabad, where an F-16 hangar was destroyed, damaging aircraft inside, and the Bholari air base, where a surveillance aircraft was eliminated. Two command-and-control centres at Murid and Chaklala, as well as at least six radar installations, were also targeted.

Singh credited the S-400 system as a “game-changer” in keeping Pakistani aircraft and long-range glide bombs at bay. “They have not been able to use any of those because they have not been able to penetrate the system,” he said.

On the government’s decision to pause Operation Sindoor, Singh voiced full support. “War should end once the objectives are met,” he said, revealing that while some urged continued strikes, halting at the right moment was a wiser choice in the national interest.

Operation Sindoor, conducted amid heightened border tensions, marks one of the most significant air defence successes in recent Indian military history.