In a significant announcement regarding Operation Sindoor in May 2025, Air Chief Marshal A P Singh confirmed that the Indian Air Force (IAF) destroyed four to five fighter jets, likely F-16s, during the cross-border strikes. This is the first detailed revelation of Pakistan’s air losses, contrasting earlier statements that only indicated the destruction of ‘at least five fighters and one large aircraft’ without further specification. During the 93rd Air Force Day celebrations, Singh explained that the strikes targeted not just aerial assets but also involved coordinated attacks on various strategic installations.
He stated, ‘We have struck a large number of Pakistan’s airfields and installations,’ noting damage to radars at four locations, command-and-control centers at two sites, and runways at two stations. Furthermore, three hangars were destroyed, and at least one C-130 class transport aircraft was confirmed destroyed alongside the four to five fighter jets under maintenance at the time of the assault. The attacks occurred on the night of May 6-7 in retaliation for a terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22 that resulted in civilian casualties.
Operation Sindoor has been characterized by defense analysts as the most extensive cross-border retaliation since the Balakot airstrikes in 2019 and the Uri surgical strikes in 2016, targeting Pakistani air bases, radars, command centers, and fighter fleets to diminish Pakistan’s air combat capabilities. Singh further indicated that alongside the fighter jets, a Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) system was destroyed, and a precision strike was executed on a long-range target over 300 kilometers away, believed to be an AEW&C aircraft or a similar high-value asset. The reconnaissance confirmed the destruction of at least five high-tech fighter aircraft of the F-16 and JF-17 class. This marks the first official acknowledgment that advanced F-16 jets were among the losses.
Singh did not comment on India’s own losses, although senior officials have previously admitted to aircraft losses without giving specific numbers. Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan acknowledged in May that India had lost aircraft during the operation, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh confirmed the operation’s success while asserting there were no casualties among soldiers. Operation Sindoor is a pivotal moment in India’s strategic military response, highlighting the IAF’s ability to conduct precise, large-scale operations deep within enemy territory. The operation significantly damaged Pakistan’s air infrastructure and conveyed India’s readiness to respond decisively to cross-border terrorism.