Why Did India Wait So Long to Reveal Pakistan’s Jet Losses in Operation Sindoor?
Bengaluru: Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh has, for the first time, officially confirmed that India destroyed five Pakistani fighter jets during Operation Sindoor—a high-intensity military campaign launched to dismantle terror infrastructure in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam attack.
Addressing a gathering in Bengaluru, the Air Chief Marshal revealed that the S-400 air defence systems were used to take down the enemy aircraft. Among the confirmed kills were five fighters and one large Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft, which could also have been an electronic intelligence (ELINT) platform.
“We have at least five fighters confirmed kills and one large aircraft… taken on at a distance of about 300 kilometres,” Singh stated, describing the destruction of the AEW&C as the largest ever recorded surface-to-air kill. He further disclosed that half of the F-16 hangar at Pakistan’s Shahbaz Jacobabad airbase was obliterated, possibly damaging several aircraft inside.
The briefing shed new light on the operation, which was launched on May 7. At the time, India had acknowledged the downing of some high-tech Pakistani Air Force jets, but no official numbers were released. Air Marshal AK Bharti, Director General of Air Operations, had then explained that India was still analysing technical data to verify the exact count.
Back then, Bharti remarked, “We don’t have the wreckage as their planes were prevented from entering our airspace. But we have downed a few planes.”
Now, months later, the Air Chief Marshal has confirmed that India’s strikes inflicted such severe damage on Pakistan’s air defence network that the adversary quickly realised the cost of continuing the conflict.
“I can say it was more of a high-tech war. In just 80 to 90 hours of fighting, we caused so much damage to their air system that it was clear—if they continued, they would pay even more,” Singh said.
He further revealed that Indian forces gained control over at least two major command-and-control centres—Murid and Chaklala—and destroyed six radars of varying sizes. Intelligence also suggested that an AEW&C aircraft and several F-16s under maintenance were damaged inside the targeted hangar.
Interestingly, this confirmation comes after repeated claims by US President Donald Trump, who has often boasted about brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, even stating that five jets were lost in the conflict, though without naming the country they belonged to. India has consistently rejected any suggestion of third-party mediation.
This raises a pointed question: Why did India wait so long to publicly confirm these details when the entire nation was eager for clarity, especially in the face of world leaders making cryptic public claims about “several aircraft” being shot down? Could early transparency have countered misinformation and strengthened India’s strategic messaging internationally?
For now, the country finally has an official number, but the timing of this revelation may remain a matter of debate for years to come.
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