IAF Chief Confirms Downing of Six Pakistani Aircraft in Operation Sindoor, Including AWACS

New Delhi, August 9 (TNA) The Indian Air Force (IAF) has revealed major details of Operation Sindoor, confirming the downing of six Pakistani aircraft, five fighter jets and a large AWACS surveillance aircraft during the May 7 offensive that followed the Pahalgam attack.

Speaking at the 16th Air Chief Marshal L.M. Katre Lecture in Bengaluru, Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh credited the Russian-made S-400 surface-to-air missile system for the successful aerial kills. The destruction of the AWACS, referred to as the “big bird,” was described as a severe blow to Pakistan’s air capabilities.

In addition to the aerial victories, IAF strikes targeted Pakistani airbases in Jacobabad and Bholari, destroying fighter jets believed to include U.S.-made F-16s that were under maintenance. Another AWACS is also believed to have been destroyed in Bholari.

The extensive damage compelled Pakistan to reconsider continuing hostilities, with Singh stating that the scale of losses pushed Islamabad toward seeking a ceasefire. The disclosure marks the first comprehensive account of the damage inflicted on Pakistan during the high-stakes military operation.