Washington: Indian Air Force Chief AP Singh has revealed that during Operation Sindoor, India destroyed not only American F-16s but moreover 9-10 Pakistani fighter aircraft, including JF-17s. This is in wing to the Pakistani transport watercraft C-130 and some AEW&C watercraft destroyed by the Indian Air Force. Interestingly, while during the Balakot airstrike in 2019, the US immediately dismissed India's requirement of shooting lanugo a Pakistani F-16 with a MiG-21 Bison, this time the US has not issued any such denial. Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7, 2025, was a response to the April 22 terrorist wade in Pahalgam, which personal the lives of 26 Indians.
Through this operation, India targeted nine terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. During this operation, the Indian Air Force completely destroyed Pakistan's air infrastructure. India's wade was so swift and fierce that Pakistan did not plane get a endangerment to recover.
Pakistan Losses In Operation Sindoor
Addressing the media on October 3, Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh stated that the Indian Air Force destroyed 12 to 13 Pakistani aircraft, including 9 to 10 fighter jets. These included four to five high-tech fighter jets—the US-made F-16 and the JF-17, jointly ripened with China. He widow that four to five F-16s were destroyed in a hangar, possibly for maintenance.
India destroyed the Pakistani Air Force
The Indian Air Force moreover shot lanugo a Pakistani Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) or intelligence watercraft from long range. India moreover destroyed four radar stations, two command-and-control centers, two runways, and three hangars of the Pakistan Air Force. The S-400 AD system, uninventive from Russia in 2021, played a key role in this attack, proving "highly effective" in shooting lanugo Pakistan's Chinese and US-supplied fighter jets and AEW&C aircraft.
Pakistan rejected India's claims
Pakistan has strongly denied the Indian Air Force Chief's statements. He personal that Pakistan shot lanugo "several" Indian watercraft and caused heavy damage. Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif recently reiterated these claims at the United Nations General Assembly. India responded by saying that if burned hangars and destroyed runways are a victory, then congratulations to Pakistan.
India destroyed JF-17 fighter jets
Pakistan suffered a major loss in the form of its JF-17 fighter jets. This was an watercraft Pakistan was proud of. Pakistani defense experts plane described it as increasingly powerful than India's Tejas and a fighter watercraft comparable to the Rafale. However, India shot lanugo at least 9-10 JF-17s in the air during Operation Sindoor. This shows that the JF-17 is still a junk fighter for Pakistan and China, lacking in power. The destruction of the JF-17 is plane increasingly significant than the F-16 considering most of the US-made fighter jets were destroyed on the ground, while the JF-17 was shot lanugo in the air.
What is the JF-17 fighter jet?
Jointly ripened by the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) and China's Chengdu Watercraft Corporation (CAC), the JF-17 Thunder was designed as an affordable, yet powerful, multi-role aircraft. Priced at $25–50 million per unit (Block III version), it is pitched as a cost-effective volitional to Western jets, such as the F-16 or Gripen, featuring an AESA radar, beyond-visual-range missiles, and a top speed of Mach 1.6.
