In a significant revelation, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has disclosed that it shot down six Pakistani aircraft, including five fighter jets and an Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) plane, during Operation Sindoor. The extensive damage was confirmed by Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, who also detailed losses the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) sustained from aerial strikes on its airbases.

Speaking at the 16th Air Chief Marshal LM Katre Lecture in Bengaluru, Air Chief Marshal Singh credited India's Russian-made S-400 surface-to-air missile system with the crucial aerial victories during the May 7 offensive. The loss of the AWACS aircraft, often referred to as a "big bird" due to its size, is considered a major setback for Pakistan's air capabilities.

The operation, which was a response to the April 22 Pahalgam massacre that killed 26 people, also targeted nine terror locations across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK), eliminating more than a hundred terrorists.

Air Chief Marshal Singh shared satellite images of key targets, including the Jaish-e-Mohammad headquarters in Bahawalpur and the Lashkar-e-Taiba headquarters in Muridke. He highlighted the precision of the strikes, noting the lack of collateral damage in the satellite photos.

"The adjacent buildings are fairly intact," he said of the Bahawalpur camp. "Not only did we have satellite pictures, but also from local media, through which we could get inside pictures."

He described the Muridke facility as a residential area for the senior leadership of Lashkar-e-Taiba, where they held meetings. "We could get video from the weapons themselves as the location was within range," he added.