New Delhi: In a striking revelation, Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh said Indian forces destroyed at least 4–5 Pakistani F-16 fighter jets on the ground during Operation Sindoor. He added that six more aircraft, including F-16s, were shot down by the S-400 air defence system.
Launching a full-scale verbal attack on Pakistan with dollops of sarcasm, he also trashed their claims about Indian losses in Operation Sindoor as “Manohar Kahaniyan”.
Addressing his annual press conference ahead of the Air Force Day 8 October, ACM Singh repeated his earlier statement that 5 Pakistan fighters and one large aircraft was shot down by India’s S-400 Triumf air defence system.
Talking about Pakistani losses, the IAF chief said India has struck a large number of their airfields and other installations.
“On ground Because of these strikes, radars at at least four places, command and control centres at two places, runways of course damaged at two places. Then three of their hangars in three different stations have been damaged. In that hangar and tarmac, we have signs of one C-130 class of aircraft, one AEW&C (Airborne Early Warning and Control) class of aircraft and at least 4 to 5 fighter aircraft, most likely F-16, because that place happened to be F-16 with which was under maintenance at that time.
“Along with that, one SAM (surface to air missile) system has been destroyed…As far as the air defence part is concerned, we have clear evidence of one long-range strike, which I talked about more than 300 km, which happened to be either an AEW&C or a SIGINT aircraft, along with five high-tech fighters between F-16 and JF-17 class, this is what our system tells us,” he said.
Asked about Pakistan claims of having shot down several Indian fighter jets including three Rafale, the IAF chief said, “Their (Pakistan) narrative is ‘Manohar Kahaniyan‘. Let them be happy, after all, they also have to show something to their audience to save their reputation. That doesn’t matter to me.”
Grinding it in further, he said, “If they think they shot down 15 of my jets, let them think about it. I hope they’re convinced about it, and they will cater for 15 less aircraft in my inventory when they come to fight again. So why should I talk about it?”
“Even today, I won’t say anything about what happened, how much damage was done, how it happened, because let them find out…” he said.
“Have you seen a single picture where something fell on any of our airbases, something hit us, a hangar was destroyed, or anything like that? We showed so many pictures of their places. However, they couldn’t show us even a single picture,” he said.
Told that Pakistan terrorist groups have started setting up headquarters deep inside in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after their Punjab based headquarters was attacked, ACM Singh said they will probably build smaller instead of big structures.
“But if intelligence is available, then we now have the capability to go deep inside any of their hideouts with absolutely accurate targeting. We can destroy them and their hideouts. So, our options have not changed. Our options will remain the same in this matter,” he said.
Also Read: India looks to procure more S-400/S-500 air defence systems from Russia
On Su-57, Rafale, Tejas Mk1A & S-400
The IAF chief also spoke on the issue of the Russian 5th generation fighter programme and confirmed ThePrint’s story that a Russian proposal was under consideration.
“As far as SU-57 is concerned, I just want to say that we have to weigh all the options, and we in the defence ministry and in the Indian Air Force have a very set process of induction of any weapon system, and that process will be followed. So what comes will depend on what meets the requirement and what is best for us,” he said.
ThePrint had reported that the IAF was looking at the Russian aircraft not for theit stealth capability, of which it has limited, but for the ability to carry heavier and hypersonic munitions like the R-37 air to air missile and the Kinzal besides being able to do deep strike missions.
ThePrint had also reported that the delivery of the Tejas Mk1A may not happen this month as expected because the IAF is of the opinion that it will accept only a fully ready fighter, which could be in the first quarter of 2026.
The IAF chief spoke on the issue and said their expectations of the technical requirements of the aircraft remain exactly the same as fixed several years ago.
“We expect the aircraft to be able to achieve those parameters that are set in those documents…We are very excited to have this aircraft with us as early as possible. I believe the engine flow has started, and some promises are being made. Some more R&D work, which is still pending. That work is still going on, as soon as they can certify the aircraft against set standards, we are ready to welcome it,” he said.
The IAF chief spoke about the possibility of procuring more S-400 air defence systems, as reported by ThePrint.
“Obviously, that has done good. So, there’s a requirement to have more such; there is no limit to numbers that you can buy. Again, I’m keeping quiet on what the plan is… It has proved to be a good weapon system. We have our own system also developing, so we will take a call on that,” he said.
ACM Singh also spoke about procuring additional Rafale, first reported by ThePrint in April this year.
“This is one of the options that is available with us because we had already done our own homework in terms of the earlier MMRCA (Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft) contract, in that we have found Rafale to be the best aircraft suited for us amongst those candidates.
“Any aircraft of that class is what is required immediately. Now, whether it is Rafale or something else, it really doesn’t matter, but yes, Rafale is easy to absorb. So whichever design house is ready to come up with the proposal to make it in India, to give us technology, give us more freedom, I think that design house should be chosen,” he said.
Incidentally, the IAF has already moved a proposal to the Defence Ministry for more Rafale.
(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)
Also Read: ‘Not troop size or weapons but tech matters, need to prepare for long conflicts’—Rajnath Singh