India’s Air Force Chief revealed on Saturday that the country destroyed five Pakistani fighter jets along with one additional military aircraft during intense clashes in May. This is the first official statement on the matter since the most serious military confrontation with Pakistan in decades.
Speaking in Bengaluru, Air Chief Marshal A P Singh stated that most of the enemy aircraft were neutralized using India’s Russian-built S-400 surface-to-air missile system. Electronic tracking data was presented as evidence of the hits.
“We have confirmed the destruction of at least five fighters and one large aircraft,” Singh said, adding that the latter, possibly a surveillance plane, was targeted from 300 km away — marking what he described as the world’s longest-range surface-to-air strike. The announcement drew applause from serving officers, veterans, and government officials present.
While Singh did not specify the models of the jets downed, he mentioned that airstrikes also damaged another surveillance plane and “a few F-16” fighters stationed in hangars at two southeastern Pakistani bases.
Pakistan’s military has yet to issue a statement, but Islamabad has previously denied losing any aircraft during the May 7–10 skirmishes. Instead, it claims to have shot down six Indian planes, including a French-made Rafale. India disputes these numbers, though it has admitted to certain losses.
France’s Air Force Chief, General Jerome Bellanger, earlier confirmed seeing proof of three Indian fighters lost in action, including one Rafale — a claim the Indian Air Force has not addressed publicly.