India’s Air Force chief, Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh, has claimed that the country’s forces shot down five Pakistani fighter jets and one military aircraft during clashes three months ago, in what he described as the worst military confrontation between the two neighbours in decades.
Speaking at an event in the southern city of Bengaluru, Singh said most of the Pakistani aircraft were destroyed using India’s Russian-made S-400 surface-to-air missile system, citing electronic tracking data as evidence.
“We have confirmation of at least five fighter jets being shot down, as well as a larger aircraft,” he said, adding that the larger aircraft, possibly a surveillance plane, was hit at a distance of 300 kilometres (186 miles). Singh described it as “the largest recorded surface-to-air strike in history,” drawing applause from an audience that included serving and retired Air Force officers as well as government and industry officials.
Pakistan’s military has not yet responded to Singh’s remarks. The Indian Air Force chief did not identify the aircraft models, but said air strikes also targeted another surveillance aircraft and several F-16 jets parked at two airbases in southeastern Pakistan.
Pakistan, whose air force primarily operates Chinese-made jets and US-supplied F-16s, has rejected the claim, insisting that no Pakistani aircraft were lost during the clashes from 7 to 10 May. Islamabad has instead asserted it downed six Indian aircraft, including at least one French-made Rafale fighter jet. While India has acknowledged some losses, it denies losing six aircraft. International media reports and former US President Donald Trump have repeatedly suggested India lost five.
The confrontation follows earlier incidents, including one in February 2019 when India claimed to have targeted militant hideouts inside Pakistan. Within 24 hours, Pakistan shot down an Indian MiG-21 fighter and captured its pilot, Abhinandan Varthaman, later releasing him. India at the time claimed to have downed a Pakistani F-16, a claim the US later contradicted after verifying all Pakistani aircraft were present.
French Air Force chief General Jerome Bellenger has previously stated he saw evidence of three Indian fighter losses, including a Rafale, though India has not commented on the assertion.
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif strongly rejected Singh’s statement, calling it ‘absurd’ for being made three months after the conflict. He challenged India to allow an independent audit of both countries’ current aircraft inventories.
India neither shot down nor destroyed any Pakistani aircraft. He said, “Not a single Pakistani aircraft was hit or destroyed by India.” These delayed claims are not only illogical but have been made at a most inappropriate time, especially when for three months no such allegation had been raised, he added.
