In a swift and coordinated military response, India has inflicted severe damage on Pakistan’s aerial warfare capabilities under Operation Sindoor, destroying nearly 20% of the Pakistan Air Force’s (PAF) critical infrastructure. The precision strikes, conducted between May 6 and 10, came after Pakistan’s failed attempts to target Indian military and civilian installations using drones and missiles.
According to official sources and corroborated satellite imagery, the Indian Armed Forces targeted over a dozen key Pakistani military bases, crippling vital components of the country’s air defence and command systems.
Heavy Losses for Pakistan Air Force
The retaliatory operation led to the destruction of multiple high-value aircraft assets. Indian forces reportedly downed at least five Pakistani aircraft, including:
- Two JF-17 fighter jets — one shot down in a dogfight and the other destroyed during take-off at Shahbaz Airbase in Jacobabad, killing five personnel, including Squadron Leader Usman Yusuf.
- One Mirage combat aircraft.
- One ARIAI AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) — a cornerstone of Pakistan’s air surveillance network. A retired Pakistani Air Marshal has acknowledged the loss.
- One C-130 transport aircraft’s destruction was confirmed through viral video footage.
These losses mark a significant blow to Pakistan’s operational readiness and aerial situational awareness.
Airbase Network Crippled
Indian strikes reportedly targeted 11 major Pakistani airbases, including those at Sargodha, Bholari, Chaklala (Nur Khan), Shorkot (Rafiqui), Murid, Sukkur, Sialkot, Pasrur, Chunian, Skardu, and Jacobabad. These bases host strategic platforms like the F-16 and JF-17 fleets.
- At Bholari Airbase, satellite imagery confirmed extensive structural damage from missile strikes, with over 50 personnel killed — making it one of the deadliest attacks of the operation.
- Other bases, such as Sargodha and Rahim Yar Khan, suffered damage to hangars, runways, and control towers, severely impacting sortie-generation capabilities.
Strategic Significance
The scale of destruction has attracted international scrutiny. Based on satellite assessments, Maxar Technologies confirmed damage at six airfields deep within Pakistan.
In a high-level briefing to military attachés from over 70 countries, Lt Gen DS Rana, Director General of India’s Defence Intelligence Agency, outlined the operational success of Operation Sindoor. He emphasized India’s use of indigenous technologies and multi-domain warfare, including cyber, space, and electronic warfare tools.
“This operation reflects the Indian military’s growing ability to conduct synchronized, high-precision, multi-domain operations,” said Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (IDS).
De-escalation After Precision Retaliation
The conflict de-escalated on May 10, following a high-level hotline exchange between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMO) of both nations. The ceasefire was reportedly brokered after India’s air defence systems successfully intercepted multiple retaliatory drone and missile attacks from Pakistan.
Severe Setback to Pakistan’s Air Strategy
The confirmed destruction of the AWACS aircraft and key operational infrastructure has dealt a strategic setback to Pakistan’s ability to coordinate large-scale aerial operations. Intelligence sources suggest the country’s command-and-control network has been significantly degraded.
Despite Islamabad’s official denials, independent satellite analysis and on-record confirmations by retired Pakistani military officials have validated the scale of damage.
India Signals New Era in Deterrence
Operation Sindoor marks a defining moment in South Asia’s evolving security environment, demonstrating India’s enhanced deterrence posture, technological edge, and ability to execute multi-domain, precision strikes under tight timelines.
As India fortifies border defences and ramps up diplomatic engagement, the operation is being viewed as a template for future response strategies — assertive, calibrated, and unmistakably effective.
Team BharatShakti
