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India’s Jet Losses in Operation Sindoor Linked to Political Restrictions, Says Navy Official
Published: June 30, 2025 | New Delhi / Jakarta
India suffered the loss of several fighter aircraft during the early stages of Operation Sindoor due to political restrictions on targeting Pakistani military installations, according to Captain Shiv Kumar, the Indian Navy’s Defence Attaché to Indonesia.
Speaking at a seminar in Jakarta on June 10, Captain Kumar explained that the government had initially directed the armed forces to strike only terrorist camps, avoiding Pakistani military bases and air defences. This limitation, he suggested, contributed to early losses.
"I may not agree that we lost five aircraft, but we did lose some jets, and that happened only because of the constraint given by the political leadership not to attack military establishments and their air defences," Kumar said in response to an Indonesian expert's claim that India lost three Rafales, one MiG-29, one Su-30MKI, and a tactical drone.
Operation Background
Operation Sindoor was India’s direct military response to the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025, where 26 civilians — mostly tourists — were killed by terrorists backed by Pakistan.
Tactical Shift and Air Superiority
Following the initial losses, India revised its military strategy. "We changed our tactics and began targeting military installations. We executed SEAD and DEAD missions — suppression and destruction of enemy air defences. By May 8 to 10, we had achieved complete air superiority," Kumar explained.
India reportedly deployed surface-to-air and surface-to-surface missiles to neutralize Pakistan's air defences, which allowed subsequent missions to proceed without further air losses.
Official Response and Clarification
The Ministry of Defence did not comment on Kumar’s statement. However, the Indian Embassy in Jakarta clarified that his remarks were taken out of context.
"The presentation explained the principle that the Indian Armed Forces operate under civilian leadership. The operation was targeted at terrorist infrastructure and was not intended to escalate conflict," the embassy said in a statement.
Earlier Comments by Chief of Defence Staff
Captain Kumar’s statements followed a similar acknowledgment by Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, who had stated in Singapore on May 31 that India lost fighter aircraft on May 7 due to tactical errors, which were quickly corrected.
Key Takeaways from Operation Sindoor
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Operation Sindoor was launched in May 2025 in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
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Initial directives limited strikes to terrorist camps only.
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India suffered unconfirmed aircraft losses early in the operation.
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Tactics shifted after May 7 to include military targets and enemy air defences.
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Air superiority was achieved by May 10, according to defence officials.
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No official confirmation yet from the Indian government regarding the exact number of aircraft lost.
The exact toll and detailed outcome of Operation Sindoor are still awaited in an official report. For now, statements by senior defence officials continue to shed light on the complex nature of India’s cross-border operations.
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