In a striking revelation, BJP’s National Information and Technology in-charge, Amit Malviya, announced that Indian armed forces downed at least five Pakistani military aircraft during the recently conducted Operation Sindoor. The operation, spearheaded by the Indian Air Force (IAF) in coordination with ground forces, reportedly resulted in the destruction of a Chinese-made JF-17, two F-16 fighter jets, a C-130J transport aircraft, and a SAAB 2000 airborne early warning system (AEW&C) belonging to Pakistan.
Malviya shared the information via social media platform X (formerly Twitter), highlighting the strategic and technological superiority demonstrated by Indian forces during the operation. The disclosure comes amidst a heated political exchange, where BJP leaders criticized Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi for questioning Indian aircraft losses while allegedly ignoring Pakistani casualties.
According to Malviya, the IAF conducted precision strikes that resulted in the downing of a C-130J medium-lift aircraft, one JF-17, and two F-16s, both in the air and on the ground. He also claimed that the IAF successfully destroyed a SAAB 2000 Erieye AEW&C aircraft stationed deep inside Pakistani territory—around 315 kilometres from the Line of Control. The Erieye is equipped with an AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radar system and is a key component of Pakistan’s air surveillance capability.
Quoting a media report, Malviya stated that the IAF has “proof” of the downing of these Pakistani aircraft. He further lauded the performance of India’s S-400 air defence system, saying it was activated 11 times during the course of Operation Sindoor, especially from the Adampur Air Base—where Prime Minister Narendra Modi later visited following the ceasefire “understanding” with Pakistan.
Malviya detailed the scope of IAF strikes on May 10, stating that Rafale jets launched SCALP missiles and SU-30 MKIs fired BrahMos missiles at high-value targets. He claimed these strikes hit Pakistan’s northern air command and control network at the Nur Khan Airbase in Chaklala during the operation’s opening salvo.
Describing the campaign’s progression, he said India conducted a total of four precision missile strikes, culminating in attacks on Jacobabad and Bholari airbases. “By the time the final strike was executed, Pakistan had already folded and was appealing to the US for a ceasefire,” Malviya noted in his post.
In refuting disinformation that circulated during the conflict—including a viral fake article attributed to a British news outlet proclaiming the “Pakistan Air Force: The Undisputed King of the Skies”—Malviya said the IAF’s battlefield performance spoke for itself and “exposed the fiction.”
Operation Sindoor, launched in the early hours of May 7, 2025, was India’s forceful response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which claimed 26 civilian lives and injured many others. The operation marked a significant departure from India’s traditionally restrained military posture, with a new strategy focused on proactive and punitive action against terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
BJP leaders have positioned the operation as a turning point in India’s defense doctrine, aimed at establishing clear deterrence through direct military retaliation and showcasing the capabilities of India’s modernized air force.
