Following the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, India launched Operation Sindoor, a retaliatory mission targeting nine terrorist bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief, Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh, has now revealed key details of the operation.
According to Singh, the IAF shot down at least five Pakistani fighter jets and a large military aircraft—believed to be a surveillance plane—during the strikes. The large aircraft was destroyed from a distance of nearly 300 kilometers, marking India’s longest successful surface-to-air engagement to date.
The operation targeted terror infrastructure linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen, eliminating over 100 militants. In retaliation, Pakistan attempted cross-border firing and drone attacks, but India responded by damaging radar systems, communication centers, and runways at 11 Pakistani airbases, including the Nur Khan Airbase near Islamabad.
Singh confirmed that the Russian-made S-400 air defense system was instrumental in bringing down the enemy aircraft. He added that IAF strikes also targeted Sukkur and Sargodha airfields, causing severe damage to a hangar, a radar site, and an Airborne Warning and Control (AWC) hangar—where several F-16s undergoing repairs were stationed. The main building used for planning Pakistan’s air operations was also destroyed, based on precise intelligence inputs.
Drawing a comparison with the 2019 Balakot airstrikes, Singh noted that this time the government released clear photographic and video evidence to the public.
“In Balakot, we could not show internal visuals, making it difficult to convince our own people. This time, we had undeniable evidence, putting the Balakot debate to rest,” he said.