India claims shot down six PAF fighter jets in May

While the remarks drew considerable attention in India, they have also triggered skepticism. The absence of photographic or video evidence has fueled doubts and generated memes across social media platforms, with military analysts pointing to the lack of verifiable proof.

Technical performance characteristics of the S-400, even when taking into account Russia’s often-inflated marketing claims, do not support the theoretical possibility of confirming Singh’s statement as presented. Analysts note that the claim appears more like an effort to justify the enormous expenditure on a missile defense system that, during the ongoing war in Ukraine, has been shown to be both vulnerable and of limited effectiveness in actual combat.

Speaking in the southern city of Bengaluru on Saturday, Indian Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh said most of the aircraft were destroyed by India’s Russian-made S-400 surface-to-air missile system. He cited electronic tracking data as confirmation of the strikes, noting the interceptions took place during what India refers to as Operation Sindoor.

The comments came months after what has been described as India’s worst military confrontation with Pakistan in decades.

According to Singh, the S-400 systems—acquired from Russia in recent years—played a central role in neutralizing the Pakistani aircraft. The S-400 is designed to engage multiple aerial threats at long ranges and is considered among the most advanced air defense systems currently in service.