India’s airstrike shattered Pakistan’s F-16s in Operation Sindoor

In a dramatic disclosure that underscores the scale of India’s May strikes, Air Chief Marshal A P Singh has confirmed that the Indian Air Force (IAF) destroyed “four to five fighter aircraft, most likely F-16s,” during Operation Sindoor, the unprecedented retaliatory assault on Pakistani military assets.

Speaking at the 93rd Air Force Day celebrations on October 2, Singh provided the most detailed account yet of the operation launched on the night of May 6–7, following the Pahalgam terror attack. “We struck a large number of their airfields and installations… radars at four places, command and control centres at two locations, runways at two airbases, and three hangars across three stations. We have evidence of one C-130-class aircraft and at least 4 to 5 fighter jets, most likely F-16s, as those were under maintenance at the time,” Singh said.

Operation Sindoor demonstrated both precision and reach, with the IAF striking targets over 300 km deep inside Pakistani territory. Singh confirmed the destruction of one surface-to-air missile system, long-range assets, and multiple high-tech fighters, including F-16s and JF-17s.

This marks the first official acknowledgment of Pakistan losing its most advanced American-built fighters, a development that carries significant military and diplomatic weight. Until now, the IAF had only spoken of “at least five fighters and one large aircraft” without naming the types.

While the Air Force refrained from detailing India’s own losses, senior military leaders insisted that all operational objectives were achieved and all pilots returned safely. Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Anil Chauhan and Air Marshal A K Bharti had earlier indicated that the mission was executed with minimal setbacks.

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, addressing Parliament, dismissed speculation about Indian losses, declaring: “Was Operation Sindoor successful? Yes. Did India destroy terror bases? Yes. Were the masterminds who wiped off sindoor from our sisters’ foreheads eliminated? Yes. Did our soldiers face losses? No. Focus on big things, not small ones.”

Often likened to the 2019 Balakot airstrikes and the 2016 Uri surgical strikes, Operation Sindoor now stands as one of India’s most forceful responses to cross-border terrorism — a mission designed not just to punish, but to demonstrate thatIndian airpower can dismantle high-value military assets deep inside enemy territory.