Air Force Chief: 6 Pakistani Jets Downed, 9 Terror Camps Hit In Operation Sindoor

In a significant disclosure highlighting India’s growing military capability, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh announced that the Indian Air Force (IAF) downed six Pakistani aircraft during ‘Operation Sindoor’.

This included five fighter jets and a high-value surveillance platform, likely an AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) aircraft.

Speaking at the Air Chief Marshal LM Katre Memorial Lecture in Bengaluru, Singh shared satellite imagery showing the extent of damage inflicted on Pakistan’s air fleet and terror infrastructure.

“These are the before and after images of the damage we caused at Bahawalpur, the JeM (Jaish-e-Mohammed) headquarters. There’s hardly any collateral here the adjacent buildings are fairly intact,” he stated.

Response to the Pahalgam Attack

Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7, was India’s targeted response to the 26 civilian deaths in the Pahalgam terror attack the previous month.

The IAF struck nine terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK), neutralising over a hundred militants, according to defence sources.

The offensive combined air-launched cruise missiles, electronic warfare assets, and real-time surveillance to ensure minimal civilian harm while achieving strategic objectives.

Record-Breaking Aerial Engagements

Singh noted that one engagement, the downing of the AWACS aircraft, was ‘the largest ever recorded surface-to-air kill that we can talk about’, taking place at a range of approximately 300 kilometres.

The recently acquired Russian-origin S-400 air defence system proved pivotal in the operation, preventing Pakistani aircraft from deploying long-range glide bombs.

“They have not been able to use any one of those because they have not been able to penetrate the system,” Singh added.

The Indian Air Force carried out precision strikes on key Pakistani airbases, including Bholari and Rahim Yar Khan. Intelligence from satellite imagery, local media, and electronic intercepts enabled the IAF to confirm the destruction of both terror and military assets.

The operation demonstrated India’s integrated defence capabilities, with the Army and Navy providing coordinated support.

BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, loitering munitions, and advanced drones played key roles during the four-day campaign, which ultimately compelled Pakistan to seek a ceasefire.

Operation Sindoor represents a new chapter in India’s deterrence strategy, merging technological superiority with operational discipline.

As Air Chief Marshal Singh concluded, “This was not just about retaliation, it was about precision, professionalism, and purpose.”

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