Open-source intelligence (OSINT) findings have brought to light the substantial strategic and operational damage suffered by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) during Operation Sindoor, an Indian retaliatory mission carried out between April and May 2025. The Indian Air Force (IAF) responded with precision, professionalism, and restraint—demonstrating strength without the need for provocation or propaganda.
The retaliation was characterized by targeted, high-impact aerial and ground strikes, leading to the confirmed loss of eight F-16 fighter jets and four JF-17s, among other critical assets. India’s actions were both swift and surgical, reflecting a highly disciplined use of airpower rooted in intelligence-led strategy.
Comprehensive Assessment: Pakistan Air Force Losses (April–May 2025)
An extensive assessment based on open-source intelligence (OSINT), supported by real-time ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) data, satellite imagery, and independent expert analysis, has outlined the significant losses sustained by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) during India’s Operation Sindoor. The total estimated financial impact of the damage inflicted between April and May 2025 is approximately $3.36 billion USD.
Aerial Combat Losses
The aerial combat, which covers direct asset losses, resulted in the confirmed downing of multiple key assets. These include four F-16 Block 52D fighter jets valued at $87.38 million each (totaling $349.52 million), one Saab 2000 Erieye AEW&C at $93 million, and an IL-78 aerial refueling aircraft worth $35 million. Additionally, Pakistan lost two CM-400AKG missiles and two Shaheen-class missiles valued at $3.2 million and $8 million respectively. Six Bayraktar TB2 unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs) were also eliminated, amounting to $36 million. In total, these aerial losses alone amounted to approximately $524.72 million.
Ground Combat Losses
Further losses were recorded on the ground as a result of targeted Indian strikes. Four more F-16 Block 52Ds were destroyed while parked at airbases, accounting for another $349.52 million in damage. A C-130H Hercules transport aircraft was also taken out, worth $40 million, along with a highly sophisticated HQ-9 surface-to-air missile (SAM) battery valued at $200 million. Two mobile command centers were neutralized as well, with a combined cost of $10 million. These ground-based losses totaled $599.52 million, bringing the overall asset destruction—air and ground combined—to roughly $1.124 billion USD.
Operational Readiness-related Expenditures During the Conflict
The sustained deployment of combat air patrols, strike sorties, and drone missions over 29 days led to an estimated cost of $725 million. Concurrent drone and missile operations involving systems such as Ra’ad, Bayraktar, and Hatf munitions added another $450 million. In addition, round-the-clock border mobilization, electronic warfare logistics, and radar activations cost an estimated $435 million. Combined, these operational activities incurred $1.61 billion USD in additional expenditure.
Damage to Key Military Infrastructure and Airbases
The damage to military infrastructure and airbases further compounded Pakistan’s losses. At PAF Base Nur Khan, critical AEW&C shelters and control centers were struck, requiring an estimated $125 million in repairs. At PAF Base Mushaf in Sargodha, damage to radar systems and F-16 command bays necessitates $100 million in reconstruction costs. Altogether, infrastructure damage is projected at $225 million USD.
Operational Highlights
India’s precision strikes resulted in the downing of four combat-ready F-16 jets and the destruction of a high-value Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) aircraft mid-air. Additionally, two hypersonic cruise missiles and two surface-to-surface missiles were intercepted during the operation, along with multiple UCAVs and loitering munitions. On the ground, India’s strikes obliterated four more F-16s and neutralized an AEW&C system stationed at an airbase.
In conclusion, Operation Sindoor has decisively weakened Pakistan’s aerial warfare capabilities through the elimination of high-value assets, degradation of critical infrastructure, and the imposition of massive operational costs. This response showcased India’s capability to execute calibrated, intelligence-driven air operations—striking hard without provocation and demonstrating strength without resorting to sensationalism. The operation stands as a model of modern precision warfare—power without propaganda, precision without provocation.
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