How many Pakistani jets did India shoot down during Operation Sindoor and how? IAF chief reveals

Air Chief Marshal AP Singh on Saturday revealed the extent of damage the Indian military wreaked on the PakistanAir Force during Operation Sindoor in May. He said the Indian forces downed at least five Pakistani fighter jets and another large aircraft during the four-day-long conflict. While six aircraft were shot down in the air, at least two were destroyed on the ground.

Among the likely Pakistani casualties was an Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS), which was crucial for Pakistan's air strength.

"We have at least five fighters' confirmed kills and one large aircraft, which could be either an ELINT aircraft or an AEW &C aircraft, which was taken on at a distance of about 300 kilometres. This is the largest ever recorded surface-to-air kill that we can talk about," he said.

Air Chief Marshal Singh, speaking at the annual 16th Air Chief Marshal LM Katre Lecture in Bengaluru, said the Russia-made S-400 air defence system shot down the Pakistani aircraft.

"Our air defence systems have done a wonderful job. The S-400 system, which we recently bought, has been a game-changer. The range of that system has kept their aircraft away from their weapons like those long-range glide bombs that they have; they have not been able to use any one of those because they have not been able to penetrate the system," he added.

In May, India destroyed nine terrorist bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Islamabad reacted with attacks on Indian civilian areas and military installations. The Indian military thwarted most of these attacks and later attacked air bases deep inside Pakistan.

After four days of intense conflict, Pakistan's DGMO was forced to call his Indian counterpart, urging a cessation of hostilities.

ACM AP Singh said none of the Pakistani aircraft could come close to the Indian borders because of India's robust air defence.

"None of their aircraft could come anywhere near the boundaries of Akash and even MRSAM. All their aircraft were taken on by LRSAM because they were trying to stay away, but still, they were within our range at times, and that is the opportunity targets that we got. As far as our offence was concerned, that night we didn't have any hold bar and we decided that we would go attack at Pan Front, we would stretch resources. The idea was once again not to attack one particular airfield and decimate that airfield. The idea was to give him that feeling or give him that indication that look, we can attack you deep inside, at will, wherever we want to...Bholari, an AEW&C hangar, was attacked," he added.