Indian Air Force Chief Praises Russian S-400 System

(MENAFN) The Russian-origin S-400 surface-to-air missile system has been described as a major “gamechanger” by Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief Amar Preet Singh.

During a public address on Saturday, Singh highlighted the significance of the S-400 system in India's military operations, particularly in countering threats from neighboring Pakistan.

According to him, this advanced defense system played a crucial role in recent confrontations during ‘Operation Sindoor’ in May.

Singh revealed that Indian forces successfully neutralized five Pakistani fighter jets along with one airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft.

He emphasized, “The S-400 system which we had recently bought has been a gamechanger.”

Explaining its strategic edge, he noted that the system’s extended kill range effectively deterred Pakistani aircraft from launching long-range air-to-ground weaponry, such as glide bombs, from a safe distance.

This statement marks the first time an Indian military leader has openly discussed the extent of Pakistan's aerial losses during the standoff.

“We have at least five fighters confirmed killed and one large aircraft, which could be an ELINT aircraft or an AEW&C aircraft, which was taken out from a distance of about 300km, which is the largest-ever recorded surface-to-air kill that we can talk about,” Singh elaborated.

Singh also addressed the damage inflicted by Indian strikes on Pakistani military infrastructure.

He mentioned the destruction of multiple radar installations and suggested that several key assets were present during the assault.

“At least six radars, some of them big, some of them small… We have an indication of at least one AEW&C in that AEW&C hangar and a few F-16s, which were under maintenance there,” Singh was quoted as saying by a news agency.

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