6 Pak aircraft shot down during Op Sindoor, says Air Force chief

In its first detailed account of Operation Sindoor, the Indian Air Force (IAF) on Saturday confirmed that six Pakistani aircraft- including five fighter jets and an airborne early warning and control system (AEW&C)- were downed during the May 7 offensive launched after Pahalgam massacre.
Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh, speaking at the 16th Air Chief Marshal L.M. Katre Lecture in Bengaluru, described the AEW&C’s loss as a major blow to Pakistan’s air capability. The aircraft was taken down from a distance of 300 km — the “largest ever recorded surface-to-air kill,” he noted.
The IAF chief credited the Russian-made S-400 missile system for keeping Pakistan’s aircraft at bay. “Our air defence systems did a wonderful job… The S-400 has been a game-changer. They have not been able to use long-range glide bombs as they could not penetrate the system,” he said.
During the strikes, IAF aircraft also destroyed hangars in Jacobabad and Bholari, where US-made F-16s under maintenance and another AEW&C were believed to be stationed.
“We have indications of at least one AEW&C and several F-16s destroyed,” Singh added.
The Air Chief Marshal said the extensive damage forced Pakistan to seek a ceasefire, ending hostilities on May 10. He praised the political leadership for granting the forces “full freedom” to plan and execute the strikes without restrictions.
Operation Sindoor targeted nine terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, eliminating over 100 terrorists. Singh also shared before-and-after satellite imagery of the strikes, saying such evidence was crucial to counter scepticism, as seen after the Balakot operation.