In his most detailed comments yet on Pakistani losses during the operation in early May, Singh said analysis points to a dozen aircraft being destroyed by India on strikes at Pakistan airbases and hits by long-range surface-to-air missiles.
“Because of these strikes, radars at four places, command and control centres at two places, and runways (were) damaged at two places. Then three of their hangars in three different stations have been damaged. We have signs of (destruction of) one C130 class of aircraft and at least 4 to 5 fighter aircraft, most likely F16, because at that place F16s were under maintenance at that time,” Singh said, addressing the IAF’s annual press conference.
He added that intelligence gathered by the Air Force revealed several aerial hits as well. “We have clear evidence of one long-range strike, more than 300 km, which happened to be either an AEW&C or a SIGINT aircraft, along with the five high-tech fighters between F16 and JF17 class – this is what our system tells us,” said Singh. He did not offer details of IAF’s losses during the operation.
Also read: Rafale one of options, it will be easy to absorb: IAF Chief on MRFA programme
Singh also noted reports of terror groups shifting their headquarters to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region after the Indian strikes and said IAF has the capability to take out all hideouts if needed.
“We are also getting news that their hideouts are changing and now they will probably build smaller structures instead of big structures. But if intelligence is available, then we now have the capability to go deep inside any of their hideouts with absolutely accurate targeting. We can destroy them and their hideouts,” the IAF chief said, stressing that during Op Sindoor, India’s long-range surface-to-air missiles made sure that Pakistani aircraft could not operate freely even within their own territory.
On the possibility of India acquiring more such long-range weapons, Singh said it has proven to be a good weapon and there is no limit to the additional numbers that can be bought in the future. He was referring to the S400 missile system purchased from Russia.
On IAF’s fleet modernisation, Singh said there is a requirement of not only Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) of which significant numbers have been ordered but also more fighters of the French-made Rafale class.
Also read: India may procure additional batches of S-400 air defence systems
“We had already done our own homework in terms of the earlier MMRCA contract, in that we have found Rafale to be the best aircraft suited for us among those candidates. Any aircraft of that class is what is required immediately. Now, whether it is Rafale or something else, it really doesn’t matter, but yes, Rafale is easy to absorb,” he said.
The officer added that a critical requirement of the new jet orders would be technology transfer from the foreign supplier and setting up a design house in the country, besides meeting the technical parameters.
Army chief tells soldiers to be ready
Asking soldiers to be fully prepared, Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi said India will not show restraint in the next edition of Operation Sindoor and warned Pakistan to stop sponsoring terrorism if it wants to retain its place on the world map.
“India, as a country, is fully prepared this time. And this time, it will not show the restraint that it showed during Operation Sindoor 1.0. This time, we will take a step forward and act in a manner that will make Pakistan think whether it wants to remain on the world map or not,” he said.
Also read: ‘Will no longer depend on foreign nations’: Rajnath Singh highlights Indian defence self-reliance
He told soldiers to be ready if an opportunity comes to continue the operation. “Keep yourselves fully prepared now. If God wants, the opportunity will come soon,” he said. General Dwivedi said India has given evidence to the world on the presence of terrorist hideouts in Pakistan during Operation Sindoor.
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