AIR Chief AP Singh reveals India’s “longest kill,” a 300 km strike inside Pakistan that destroyed a surveillance aircraft. Pakistan’s claims of downing Indian jets dismissed by IAF chief as “fanciful tales” without evidence.
BY PC Bureau
New Delhi, October 4: Amid competing claims over the number of aircraft lost during Operation Sindoor, Indian Air Force (IAF) chief Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh on Friday said the IAF destroyed 8–10 Pakistani fighter jets, including U.S.-made F-16s and Chinese JF-17s, during the May hostilities.
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Speaking at the 93rd Air Force Day celebrations, Singh gave the first detailed account of the operation, rejecting Pakistan’s assertions that Indian jets were downed, calling them “manohar kahaniyan (fanciful tales).”
Air Combat and the ‘Longest Kill’
According to Singh, India destroyed four to five frontline fighters and one surveillance aircraft in aerial engagements. He revealed that the IAF executed a strike at a distance of more than 300 km inside Pakistani territory, targeting what was believed to be either an AEW&C or SIGINT aircraft.
“This was the longest kill ever achieved by the Air Force and the highlight of the year,” Singh said.
IAF Chief on #OperationSindoor :
India struck multiple enemy airfields and installations with precision.
5 Pakistani fighters (F-16/JF-17 class) shot down
4-5 Pakistani F-16’s were destroyed on ground (PAF Shahbaz Base)
Radars at 4 locations destroyed
2 Command & Control centres… pic.twitter.com/8PXnJppNsf— IDU (@defencealerts) October 3, 2025
Strikes on the Ground
On the ground, Singh said another four to five F-16s were destroyed as the IAF carried out precision strikes on military infrastructure, including radars at four locations, command and control centres at two bases, two runways, three hangars, and a Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) site.
These strikes, believed to have taken place on May 10, targeted 11 Pakistani airbases, forcing Islamabad to seek a ceasefire.
“We made Pakistan reach a stage where they had to ask for a ceasefire,” the Air Chief added.
Countering Pakistan’s Narrative
The revelation comes just days after Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif told the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) that seven Indian jets were downed during the conflict. Pakistan, however, has provided no evidence.
Taking a swipe at Islamabad’s claims, Singh quipped:
“If they think they downed our 15 jets, I hope they are convinced about it and will cater for 15 fewer aircraft in my inventory when they come to fight again.”
India launched Operation Sindoor in the early hours of May 7 in response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which killed 26 people. During the operation, the IAF also destroyed nine key terror camps inside Pakistan, marking one of its most extensive cross-border campaigns in recent years.
