In a major disclosure, Indian Air Force (IAF) chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh announced that the IAF destroyed 8–10 Pakistani fighter aircraft, including US-made F-16s and Chinese JF-17s, during the May hostilities under Operation Sindoor. Speaking at the 93rd Air Force Day celebrations, Singh said Pakistan’s claims of shooting down multiple Indian jets were nothing more than “manohar kahaniyan (fascinating tales).”
The air chief detailed that Indian strikes took out 4–5 front-line F-16 and JF-17 jets, along with one surveillance aircraft, marking one of the most significant aerial confrontations in recent history. According to Singh, the decisive blow occurred on May 10, when India targeted 11 Pakistani military airbases in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 dead. These strikes, he said, delivered both a strategic and psychological setback to Pakistan.
“We made Pakistan reach a stage where they had to ask for a ceasefire,” Singh remarked, underlining that the pressure from Operation Sindoor forced Islamabad to seek de-escalation.
Countering Pakistan’s Narrative
The revelation also comes days after Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif claimed at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) that Pakistan had downed seven Indian fighter jets. The IAF chief dismissed the statement sharply, saying Pakistan had provided no evidence. Taking a swipe at Islamabad, Singh joked, “If they think they downed our 15 jets, I hope they are convinced about it and they will cater for 15 less aircraft in my inventory when they come to fight again.”
Operation Sindoor’s Impact
Launched just past midnight on May 7, Operation Sindoor was India’s direct military response to the Pahalgam terror attack. The IAF targeted and destroyed nine key terror camps inside Pakistan, followed by heavy strikes on Pakistan Air Force bases. Post-strike assessments confirmed steep losses on the Pakistani side, not only in terms of assets but also in morale.
The operation has since been described as a game-changer for the IAF, showcasing India’s long-range capabilities, precision strikes, and air dominance in the region.
