Bengaluru, Aug 9 – In a significant disclosure, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh revealed that the Indian Air Force (IAF) downed six Pakistani aircraft, including five fighter jets and a high-value AWACS surveillance platform, during Operation Sindoor. The operation, launched on May 7, was India’s calibrated response to the April Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians.
Speaking at the Air Chief Marshal L.M. Katre Memorial Lecture in Bengaluru, Singh shared satellite images showing precise strikes on the Jaish-e-Mohammed headquarters in Bahawalpur with minimal collateral damage. “We have five confirmed kills and one large aircraft taken out from about 300 km away — the largest recorded surface-to-air kill we can speak of,” he stated.
The IAF targeted nine terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK), eliminating over 100 militants. Strikes were carried out using air-launched cruise missiles, advanced drones, electronic warfare assets, and real-time surveillance.
A key role was played by the Russian-origin S-400 air defence system, which neutralised multiple airborne threats and prevented Pakistani forces from deploying long-range glide bombs. The AWACS aircraft, critical for Pakistan’s air coordination, was among the notable aerial kills.
Precision munitions also struck strategic ground targets, including airbases at Bholari and Rahim Yar Khan. Intelligence from satellite imagery, local sources, and electronic intercepts confirmed the destruction of terror infrastructure and military assets.
The operation demonstrated India’s integrated defence capabilities, with the Army and Navy providing coordinated support. The use of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, loitering munitions, and multi-platform coordination over four days forced Pakistan to seek a ceasefire.
“Operation Sindoor was about precision, professionalism, and purpose — not just retaliation,” Singh affirmed, highlighting a decisive shift in India’s counter-terror strategy.
