Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh has confirmed that the Indian Air Force (IAF) shot down five Pakistan Air Force fighter jets and one airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft during Operation Sindoor, marking the first official disclosure of the scale of Pakistan’s losses in the cross-border anti-terror mission.
Speaking at the Air Chief Marshal L.M. Katre Memorial Lecture in Bengaluru, Singh described the destruction of the large AEW&C/ELINT aircraft—engaged from a distance of about 300 kilometres—as “the largest ever recorded surface-to-air kill.”
He praised India’s air defence network, singling out the recently acquired Russian-made S-400 missile system as pivotal. “The S-400 system has been a game-changer. It has kept their aircraft away from using long-range glide bombs, as they could not penetrate our defences,” Singh said.
The IAF chief highlighted that India’s long-range precision weapons were deployed with strict measures to prevent civilian casualties. Citing before-and-after imagery from Bahawalpur—where Jaish-e-Mohammed’s headquarters were targeted—he noted that collateral damage was minimal, with surrounding structures largely intact.
Operation Sindoor, conducted earlier this year, was aimed at neutralising terrorist infrastructure across the border. Singh’s remarks not only confirmed Pakistan’s aerial losses but also underscored a shift in South Asia’s air combat dynamics, with advanced air defence systems significantly altering the strategic balance.
