Indian Air Drive Chief of Air Workers Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh has confirmed the profitable shootdowns of 5 Pakistani fighters as a part of Operation Sindoor in early Could, elaborating on the precise kinds of plane that had been focused. Offering particulars on the successes of Indian operations, the Marshal noticed: “We’ve got clear proof of 1 long-range strike, which I talked about greater than 300 km, which occurred to be both an AEW&C or a SIGINT plane, together with that 5 high-tech fighters between F-16 and JF-17 class that is what our system tells us.” Though India’s new French-supplied Rafale fighters are assessed to have considerably underperformed, with the lack of between one and 4 of the plane reported, Russian-supplied S-400 lengthy vary air defence programs had been credited with a number of kills and with having performed a central function in securing Indian victories. The Indian Defence Ministry has since opened talks to acquire additional S-400 battalions.
Commenting on the function of the S-400, Marshal Singh beforehand noticed: “The S-400 system which we had just lately purchased has been a sport changer… The kill vary of that system saved their plane away from the utmost distance at which they may make use of their long-range air-to-ground weapons, like these long-range glide bombs that they’ve.” In his newest assertion on the engagements, Singh additional famous that alongside successes within the air-to-air area, profitable strikes had been additionally launched in opposition to main airbases, destroying radars, command and management centres, hangars and runways. “We’ve got indicators of 1 C-130 class of plane…and a minimum of 4 to five fighter plane, most definitely F-16, as a result of that place occurred to be F-16 with no matter was underneath upkeep at the moment,” he mentioned. This assertion corroborates stories of Su-30MKI fighters launching profitable assaults on airbases deep inside Pakistan, utilizing BrahMos cruise missiles and inflicting appreciable harm to F-16 items particularly.
