India Claims Downing Six Pakistani Aircraft in Operation Sindoor Retaliation

On May 7, during Operation Sindoor, the Indian Air Force (IAF) shot down six Pakistani military aircraft, including five fighter jets and an Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AEWC) aircraft, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh confirmed. The AEWC was destroyed at a range of 300 km, which Singh described as “the largest ever recorded surface-to-air kill that we can talk about.” The operation was launched in response to the Pahalgam attack in Jammu and Kashmir, in which 26 tourists were killed by Pakistan-linked terrorists.

The IAF also carried out aerial strikes on Pakistan Air Force (PAF) bases, including those in Jacobabad and Bholari. Several U.S.-made F-16 aircraft under maintenance in a Jacobabad hangar were destroyed, while an AEWC aircraft in a hangar at Bholari was also likely destroyed. The IAF released before-and-after satellite images showing damage to these facilities. Additional strikes targeted a radar installation in Arifwala and runways and UAV hubs at the Rahim Yar Khan Airbase.

Air Chief Marshal Singh highlighted the role of the recently acquired Russian-made S-400 surface-to-air missile system, calling it a “game-changer.” He said the system prevented Pakistani aircraft from using long-range glide bombs, as they could not penetrate Indian air defenses.

Singh explained that the extensive damage inflicted on Pakistan’s air assets was a key factor leading the Pakistani side to seek a ceasefire. “Our attacks were calibrated because we wanted to be mature about it,” he stated. The strikes and aircraft kills, particularly the loss of AEWC platforms, were described as major blows to Pakistan’s air power capabilities.

On May 7, during Operation Sindoor, the Indian Air Force (IAF) shot down six Pakistani military aircraft, including five fighter jets and an airborne early warning and control system (AEWC) aircraft, according to Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh. The incident occurred following the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, India-administered Kashmir, which killed 26 tourists and triggered heightened tensions between the two countries.

Speaking in Bengaluru at the 16th Air Chief Marshal LM Katre Lecture, Singh said that the AEWC was destroyed at a distance of 300 km, marking 'the largest ever recorded surface-to-air kill' for India. He credited the recently acquired Russian-made S-400 air defence system as a 'gamechanger' that prevented Pakistani aircraft from deploying weapons such as long-range glide bombs. 'Our air defence systems did a wonderful job,' Singh stated.

In addition to the aerial kills, the IAF struck hangars at Jacobabad and Bholari airbases in Pakistan. At Jacobabad, some U.S.-made F-16s under maintenance were destroyed, and at Bholari, another AEWC aircraft is believed to have been destroyed. Singh presented before-and-after satellite images of the targets.

The Indian Air Chief claimed the damage inflicted led Pakistan to seek a ceasefire to avoid further losses. 'Our attacks were calibrated because we wanted to be mature about it,' Singh noted.

Pakistan rejected the Indian claim. Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif stated that no Pakistani aircraft were destroyed, accusing India of fabricating the narrative and suggesting independent verification of aircraft inventories. Asif said, 'Such comical narratives, crafted for domestic political expediency, increase the grave risks of strategic miscalculation in a nuclearised environment.'

The May 7–10 clashes between the nuclear-armed neighbours were their heaviest fighting in decades, involving fighter jets, cruise missiles, and resulting in dozens of deaths. This is the first official Indian statement quantifying Pakistani aircraft losses from the conflict.