New Delhi: At a time when Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has questioned the Government on how many aircraft India lost during Operation Sindoor, the BJP’s IT Cell chief Amit Malviya has come up with a claim that the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) lost at least five aircraft in the conflict.
Malviya’s claim has not been corroborated by the Indian armed forces that continue to remain tight-lipped about the loss of aircraft by either side.
Malviya has claimed that the PAF lost a Chinese-made JF-17, two F-16s, a C-130 transport aircraft, and a SAAB 2000 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft.
Malviya shared the information on X, highlighting the strategic and technological superiority demonstrated by the Indian armed forces during the operation.
According to Malviya, the IAF conducted precision strikes that resulted in the PAF losses both in the air and on the ground. He claimed that the IAF destroyed the SAAB 2000 Erieye AEW&C aircraft of Swedish make 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 also 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 — which was later visited by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
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.
