What Did CDS Anil Chauhan Say About Recent Air Losses Against Pakistan?

CDS Anil Chauhan Addresses Aircraft Losses

Singapore: On Saturday, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan acknowledged that there were aircraft losses during recent conflicts with Pakistan but firmly rejected Islamabad's assertion of having shot down six Indian jets, labeling it as 'absolutely incorrect.'

In an interview with Bloomberg TV, Chauhan emphasized the significance of understanding the reasons behind the aircraft losses to enhance military strategies for future engagements.

"The focus should not solely be on the jets that were downed but rather on the reasons behind their loss," he stated.

When questioned about the Indian Air Force's (IAF) combat jet losses during the recent four-day military confrontations with Pakistan, he remarked, "The positive aspect is that we identified our tactical errors, corrected them, and resumed operations within two days, deploying our jets for long-range targets."

Regarding Pakistan's claims during Operation Sindoor, General Chauhan reiterated, "Absolutely incorrect," when asked about the alleged downing of six Indian aircraft.

Earlier, Air Marshal AK Bharti, the Director General of Air Operations for the IAF, acknowledged that losses are inherent in combat but confirmed that all IAF pilots returned safely after the operations.

These comments were made during a media briefing on May 11, addressing inquiries about India's aircraft losses during Operation Sindoor.

General Chauhan is currently in Singapore for the Shangri-La Dialogue.