India’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan has, for the first time, confirmed that the Indian Air Force lost fighter jet during the clashes with Pakistan on the night of May 7. In an interview to Bloomberg TV in Singapore on May 30, General Chauhan made the remarks in an interview with Bloomberg TV. CDS General Anil Chauhan was in Singapore to attend Shangri-La Dialogue.
This is the first official acknowledgement from a top Indian military officer about the fighter jet losses, though he did not reveal how many were downed. “What is important is not the number of jets lost, but why they were lost,” General Chauhan said. He added that understanding the reasons behind these losses and learning from them is more crucial than the numbers themselves.
The CDS also strongly rejected Pakistan’s claims that it shot down six Indian warplanes, including three Rafale jets. “That is absolutely incorrect,” he said.
During and after the four-day conflict, Indian officials had not denied the losses but also did not confirm them. Air Marshal A.K. Bharti, Director-General of Air Operations, had earlier said, “We are in a combat situation and losses are part of it,” but declined to give further details. Similarly, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri had also avoided giving specific information.
General Chauhan emphasized that India quickly learnt from the mistakes made during the initial clashes. He stated that the Indian Air Force identified the tactical errors, corrected them, and successfully resumed operations within two days. “We were able to fly all our jets again and carry out long-range targeting,” he said.
The conflict, which lasted four days in early May, saw intense air and ground activity along the India-Pakistan border. Earlier this month, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had claimed that his country had downed six Indian jets in one night, sparking controversy and speculation in both countries.
General Chauhan’s statement now confirms that India did suffer losses, although not to the extent claimed by Pakistan. His comments also highlight India’s focus on drawing tactical lessons from the experience and improving its response capability.
With this confirmation, the spotlight now shifts to how India strengthens its air defence and combat readiness in the face of evolving regional threats.
