Explainer | India Shot Down Pakistani Fighter Jets Including ‘High-Tech’ Aircraft In Operation Sindoor: IAF Confirms

India’s retaliatory military action following the deadly Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 has taken a definitive shape through Operation Sindoor

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry called the operation a “blatant act of war” and vowed retaliation.

Claim:
India has shot down multiple Pakistani fighter jets, including high-tech aircraft, during Operation Sindoor launched in response to increased cross-border threats.

Verdict:
Confirmed. In a joint press briefing on May 11, senior officials from the Indian Army, Air Force, and Navy confirmed the downing of Pakistani jets and elaborated on India’s coordinated response to hostile aerial and ground incursions.

What Happened?

On Sunday, May 11, 2025, the Indian Armed Forces held a high-level joint press conference to provide details of Operation Sindoor, India’s military response to Pakistan’s escalating drone and airspace violations. The operation was launched following a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22 and intensified incursions from across the border.

Air Marshal Awadhesh Kumar Bharti, Director General of Air Operations (DGAO), stated that Pakistani drones, UAVs, and aircraft carried out a large-scale aerial offensive beginning late on the night of May 8, extending across cities from Srinagar to Naliya.

India’s Air Defense Response

“Our air defense systems were activated and repelled most threats. There was no ground damage or successful hit on our infrastructure,” Air Marshal Bharti confirmed.

During the offensive from the Pakistani side on the night of May 9-10, multiple aircraft were detected attempting to enter Indian airspace. The Indian Air Force (IAF) retaliated in a calibrated manner by targeting military installations inside Pakistan, notably including surveillance radar sites in Lahore.

Lt. Gen Rajiv Ghai, Director General of Military Operations (DGMO), confirmed:

“We strengthened our deployment and created pressure points to warn Pakistan against any land misadventure.”

Pakistani Fighter Jets Shot Down

While the IAF has not recovered wreckage, Air Marshal Bharti said that radar, visual, and technical confirmations have established the downing of multiple Pakistani jets.

“I can confirm that several of their high-tech planes were downed. We’re verifying exact numbers and technical specifics,” he said.

Context: Operation Sindoor

Operation Sindoor was launched as a measured retaliatory strike against Pakistan-based terror infrastructure and persistent military provocations along the Line of Control (LoC) and western borders of Punjab, Rajasthan, and Jammu.

The Indian government has repeatedly stated that Operation Sindoor is not an act of war but a defensive operation targeting terror launchpads and violating aircraft.

Verdict: True

India’s armed forces have confirmed the downing of Pakistani aircraft and the precision-targeting of key Pakistani military infrastructure as part of Operation Sindoor. The operation continues amid international calls for de-escalation, with the U.S. and other global powers monitoring the situation closely.