India Lost Fighter Jets in Clash with Pakistan, Confirms General Chauhan – Tactical Errors and Operation Sindoor Explained

India Pakistan fighter jet losses -India’s Early Air Losses in Clash with Pakistan: General Chauhan Breaks Silence on Tactical Errors

New Delhi/Singapore, May 31 – In a rare acknowledgment, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan confirmed that India lost fighter jets during the initial phase of its military conflict with Pakistan earlier this month, but emphasized that the focus should be on the tactical lessons learned, not the number of aircraft downed.

Speaking during an interview at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, General Chauhan shed light on the setbacks the Indian Air Force (IAF) encountered during the May 7–10 confrontation with Pakistan — part of Operation Sindoor, India’s large-scale response to the Pahalgam terror attack.

“What matters is not how many jets went down, but understanding why they were downed. Recognizing the mistakes, correcting them, and adapting is more crucial than the numbers,” Chauhan stated in a conversation with Bloomberg TV.

While Pakistani officials claimed they had shot down six Indian fighter jets, General Chauhan firmly rejected the figure, labeling it “absolutely incorrect.” However, he acknowledged that the IAF did suffer losses early in the operation due to tactical miscalculations, which were swiftly corrected.

Tactical Errors and Swift Response

Chauhan highlighted the Indian armed forces’ ability to quickly recalibrate strategy, revealing that after identifying initial flaws, the IAF re-entered combat two days later with adjusted tactics and long-range targeting systems.

“We reviewed the situation, remedied the issue, and resumed missions effectively. That’s the real success of the operation,” Chauhan added.

These remarks were echoed by Air Marshal AK Bharti, Director General Air Operations, during a press briefing on May 11, where he addressed questions regarding the extent of losses.

“This was active combat. Losses are inevitable in such scenarios. But our objective — dismantling terror camps — was achieved with precision,” said Bharti.
“All our pilots are safely back. That is a victory in itself.”

No Official Jet Count Released

When contacted by Hindustan Times, an IAF spokesperson declined to comment on the exact number of aircraft lost or the nature of the tactical mistakes that led to the initial setbacks.

Both Chauhan and Bharti chose not to disclose the platforms involved or specific casualty figures, instead shifting focus toward operational achievements.

Operation Sindoor: India’s Offensive Strategy

The May 7–10 confrontation was part of India’s retaliatory campaign, Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the Pahalgam terror attack. The IAF, according to defense sources, successfully targeted:

• 9 terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK)

• 13 military installations and airbases across Pakistani territory

• Strategic facilities using drones, missiles, fighter jets, and long-range artillery

These strikes marked one of the largest Indian military operations since Balakot, involving a combination of aerial and ground-based systems aimed at neutralizing terror infrastructure.

Strategic Shift in India’s Air Doctrine

Experts view this episode as a turning point in India’s military strategy — where real-time adaptation, data-driven targeting, and multi-platform coordination played a key role.

While the IAF’s early losses remain undisclosed, the rapid operational turnaround and precision strikes are being credited as a successful demonstration of India’s modernized combat capabilities.

नगरी के 16 वर्षीय युवक की समुद्र में डूबने से मौत, उड़ीसा के पुरी में हुआ हादसा