New Delhi | August 9, 2025 – The Indian Air Force (IAF) has revealed that six Pakistani aircraft — including five fighter jets and one large surveillance plane — were destroyed during Operation Sindoor, its major military offensive in May this year.

Speaking at the 16th Air Chief Marshal LM Katre Lecture in Bengaluru, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh said the “big bird” shot down was likely an AEW&C (Airborne Early Warning and Control System) or an electronic intelligence aircraft. This, he noted, was one of Pakistan’s most significant losses during the May 7 strikes, which came in retaliation to the April 22 Pahalgam massacre, where 26 civilians were killed by Pakistan-linked terrorists.

“We have five confirmed kills and one large aircraft taken down from 300 km away — the largest ever recorded surface-to-air kill we can talk about,” the Air Chief said. He credited India’s Russian-made S-400 air defence system for making this possible, calling it a “game-changer” that prevented Pakistani aircraft from using long-range weapons like glide bombs.

The IAF also struck Jacobabad and Bholari airbases in Pakistan. In Jacobabad, hangars containing US-made F-16 fighter jets under maintenance were destroyed. In Bholari, the IAF believes another AEW&C aircraft was wiped out. “We have indications of at least one AEW&C in that hangar and several F-16s under maintenance being destroyed,” Singh said.

According to the Air Chief, the damage dealt to Pakistan was so severe that its leadership sought a ceasefire within three days. Hostilities ended on May 10.

Singh also praised India’s political leadership for giving the armed forces complete freedom to plan and execute the operation. “There were very clear directions, no restrictions. We decided the escalation level ourselves. Our attacks were calibrated to be mature and controlled,” he explained.

Operation Sindoor targeted nine terror facilities in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK), killing over 100 terrorists. Singh shared “before and after” satellite images of the sites to highlight the accuracy of the strikes. He said having such evidence was crucial, recalling that after the 2019 Balakot airstrike, it was difficult to convince the public without visible proof.

One of the notable achievements during the operation was the long-range hit on the Pakistani surveillance plane. Such aircraft play a critical role in monitoring enemy airspace and guiding fighter jets. Losing one significantly weakened Pakistan’s air capability during the conflict.

The Air Chief also confirmed that Pakistan’s inability to breach India’s air defence meant its aircraft stayed far from the border, rendering many of its advanced weapons useless.

Operation Sindoor is being hailed as one of the most decisive aerial campaigns in recent years, showcasing India’s improved surveillance, precision strike capabilities, and integration of new defence technologies like the S-400 system.

“This was a coordinated, well-planned response,” Singh said. “The message was clear — if provoked, India has both the capability and the will to respond strongly.”