Indian Air Force (IAF) chief Amar Preet Singh on Friday said that 4 to 5 Pakistani fighter jets, most likely F-16s, were destroyed during India’s air strikes under Operation Sindoor. Addressing a press conference in the national capital on the occasion of the 93rd Air Force Day, Singh said the operation caused “substantial damage” to Pakistani airbases, radars, command centres, and runways.
He said that three hangars at different bases were damaged and that evidence suggested a C-130-class aircraft, possibly used for transport or surveillance, was also hit. Additionally, the IAF struck down a high-value aircraft, believed to be an airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) platform, at a distance of over 300 km – marking the longest successful missile strike in IAF history. “Our long-range surface-to-air missiles prevented them from operating even within their own territory up to a certain range. This strike of more than 300 km will go down in history,” Singh said.
The IAF chief stressed that India entered the conflict with a clear goal and ended it swiftly after meeting its objectives. “This war was started with a very clear objective and was terminated in a quick time without prolonging it. Unlike other conflicts in the world, we made Pakistan reach a stage where they themselves asked for a ceasefire,” he said.
Singh also dismissed Pakistan’s claims of having shot down Indian fighter jets during the operation, ridiculing them as “Manohar Kahaniyan” (fanciful stories). “If they think they shot down 15 of my jets, let them believe it. Have you seen a single picture of any damage on our bases? We, on the other hand, have shown evidence of the damage caused to theirs,” he said, adding that such narratives were floated by Islamabad only to mislead its public.
Operation Sindoor was launched in response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. The IAF’s strikes targeted terrorist camps and Pakistani military infrastructure supporting such networks.
Looking ahead, Singh also provided updates on the IAF’s modernisation plans. He said the indigenously developed Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) is expected to take its first flight by 2028 and be inducted into service by 2035, calling the timeline “achievable, or perhaps even faster if pursued with full commitment.”
On the procurement of new fighter jets, Singh noted that Rafale remains a strong contender given its proven suitability during the earlier MMRCA contract, but clarified that all options – including Russia’s Su-57 – would be weighed strictly on merit, with preference for technology transfer and manufacturing in India.
Commenting on reports of terrorist groups shifting their bases deeper into Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Singh asserted that India retains the capability to strike such hideouts with precision. “If intelligence is available, we can go deep inside and destroy them. Our options remain open,” he said.
(With inputs from ANI)
