New Delhi | October 4, 2025 — The Indian Air Force (IAF) is preparing to celebrate its 93rd Air Force Day on October 8, 2025, with a grand ceremony at Hindon Air Force Station. Ahead of the event, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, PVSM, AVSM, addressed the media in his first press conference since Operation Sindoor, outlining both the operation’s unprecedented military achievements and the service’s roadmap for modernization.
Operation Sindoor: Calibrated Retaliation After Pahalgam
Air Chief Marshal Singh began by revisiting the tragic Pahalgam terror attack of April 22, 2025, which claimed 26 civilian lives. In response, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, 2025, a coordinated tri-service campaign aimed at dismantling terrorist infrastructure across Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Punjab.
“Operation Sindoor was a measured and precise retaliation,” the Air Chief emphasized, “executed with restraint, designed to neutralize terror camps while minimizing collateral damage.”
Key operational highlights included:
- Deployment of 80–90 combat aircraft across multiple bases.
- Rafale fighters armed with SCALP and Hammer precision missiles.
- Mirage 2000s deploying Spice-2000 guided munitions.
- Su-30MKIs launching BrahMos cruise missiles.
- Indigenous drones and loitering munitions supporting deep strikes.
The operation was coordinated in real time through the Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS), showcasing India’s ability to conduct seamless joint-service warfare.
Pakistan’s Losses: A Historic Aerial Defeat
Singh confirmed that Pakistan’s Air Force suffered 12–13 aircraft losses, including:
- 4–5 fighters downed in direct aerial combat.
- 7–8 fighters destroyed or disabled on the ground during airfield strikes.
Most of the destroyed fighters were U.S.-made F-16s and Chinese JF-17s, a severe depletion of Pakistan’s frontline squadrons.
Perhaps the most significant achievement was the longest recorded aerial kill in IAF history: the downing of a Pakistani Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) aircraft at approximately 300 km range inside Pakistani airspace.
Other confirmed strikes included:
- A C-130 transport aircraft.
- At least 10 drones.
- Four radar sites, two command centers, three aircraft hangars, and two runways.
- One advanced Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) battery.
Over 100 militants, including senior Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed operatives, were also neutralized.
By May 10, 2025, Pakistan sought a ceasefire, underlining the scale of the damage and the operation’s strategic impact.
A Strategic and Ethical Victory
Despite the scale of the strikes, Singh underscored that India acted with restraint and precision. Pakistan’s retaliatory drone and missile attacks were intercepted by India’s multi-layered air defense network, including indigenous systems.
“Operation Sindoor has demonstrated India’s ability to deliver decisive results while upholding international norms of proportionality and civilian safety,” Singh noted.
93rd Air Force Day: A Showcase of Valor and Modernization
Looking ahead, the IAF will mark Air Force Day on October 8 with a theme of “Bhartiya Vayu Sena: Saksham, Sashakt, Aatmanirbhar” (Capable, Powerful, Self-Reliant).
The celebrations will feature:
- A grand flypast of Rafales, Sukhoi-30s, Tejas, and Apache helicopters.
- Parades and honors to commemorate the service’s heritage.
- Akash Ganga paratroopers performing aerial displays.
- Exhibitions on indigenization initiatives, including the induction of C-295 transport aircraft and the progress of the Vodra assembly line for indigenous aircraft.
Singh highlighted that indigenization, AI-driven air defense, and drone warfare capabilities remain top priorities as the IAF prepares for the challenges of next-generation warfare.
A Defining Moment in India’s Air Power History
The combination of Operation Sindoor’s success and the IAF’s 93rd anniversary has elevated this year’s Air Force Day to a historic milestone.
“India’s Air Force is not only celebrating its legacy,” Singh concluded, “but also reaffirming its role as a modern, self-reliant, and technologically advanced force, fully prepared to safeguard the nation’s sovereignty.”
As the nation awaits the ceremonial events on October 8, Operation Sindoor already stands as a defining chapter in India’s defense history — a symbol of precision, deterrence, and the enduring valor of the Indian Air Force.