Air Chief Marshal A. P. Singh has made significant revelations regarding Operation Sindoor, emphasizing the Indian Air Force's (IAF) success and the political backing it received. Speaking at the Air Chief Marshal LM Katre lecture in Bengaluru, ACM Singh addressed speculation about potential constraints during the operation, asserting that the IAF had complete freedom in its planning and execution.
Operation Sindoor was launched in response to the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians on April 22. The operation aimed to target terrorist infrastructure across the border. According to ACM Singh, the IAF inflicted substantial damage on Pakistan, including the downing of six aircraft, five of which were fighter jets. One of the aircraft was identified as either an Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AEW&C) or an ELINT aircraft, taken down at approximately 300 kilometers, representing the largest recorded surface-to-air kill.
The IAF chief credited the S-400 Triumf air defense system, recently acquired from Russia, as a "game changer". He explained that its range effectively deterred Pakistani aircraft and prevented them from deploying long-range glide bombs. ACM Singh noted that the S-400 blocked Pakistan's attempts to penetrate Indian air defenses and attack military bases.
In addition to the aerial victories, ACM Singh detailed the damage inflicted on Pakistani airbases and military sites. The strikes targeted command and control centers, radars, and aircraft hangars. Notably, the Jacobabad airfield, housing F-16 fighter jets, sustained considerable damage, with one hangar partially destroyed and some aircraft inside damaged. Other targeted airfields included Sargodha and Rahim Yar Khan. The strikes on these airbases, some of which were not yet fully operational, ultimately compelled Pakistan to request a ceasefire after three days of hostilities.
ACM Singh highlighted the clear political direction and lack of restrictions imposed on the IAF during Operation Sindoor. He emphasized that the forces themselves determined the rules of engagement, the escalation ladder, and how to control escalation. Any constraints were self-imposed, reflecting a calculated approach to avoid unnecessary escalation. The decision was made not to target certain installations to prevent further escalation of the conflict.
US warfare expert John Spencer praised the alignment between the political and military objectives during Operation Sindoor. He noted that the IAF carried out the mission with the right of self-defense and self-operation, achieving political goals effectively. Spencer also addressed questions about Pakistan's inability to stop Indian strikes, attributing the success to joint synchronization in warfare. He emphasized the importance of integrating ground, air, and naval capabilities to achieve military objectives.
New images have emerged showing the extent of the damage inflicted on Pakistani military targets during Operation Sindoor. These images, part of ACM Singh's presentation, reveal the significant impact on Pakistan's air assets. The images depict damaged radar installations at Arifwala and Chunian, as well as the damage at Nur Khan Air Force base (Chaklala) and Rahim Yar Khan airbase.
