How IAF achieved 314 km ‘longest kill’ of Pak aircraft during Op Sindoor, reveals MoD report

NEW DELHI: The defence ministry’s annual report 2025-26, released on Sunday, recorded what it described as the “longest surface-to-air kill” — of a “Pakistani special-mission aircraft by an Indian S-400 unit from a distance of 314 km”, during Operation Sindoor and also provided details of several key IAF targets in Pakistan, including fighter aircraft hangars, runways and command-and-control centres.Explaining the longest kill, the report said, “Indian radars tracked the threat in silence and through flawless precision, the long range surface-to-air missile was guided through its far boundary. This crucial operation proved to the adversary that no point on ground or in air was beyond the reach of IAF offensive elements.”Though the defence ministry’s 2025 report did not identify the Pakistan aircraft, there were reports earlier that India shot down a Pakistani Saab 2000 AEW&C/ELINT (Airborne Early Warning and Control / Electronic Intelligence) aircraft from the Russian-acquired S400. India currently has in its possession four S-400 squadrons out of the five contracted under the 2018 deal with Russia, with three already operational and the fifth is expected by Nov.“With this operation, IAF rewrote the rules of air defence and the belief of the enemy that distance could provide it with protection was challenged,” the report said.After the operation, India has undertaken a comprehensive review of capability voids with clear focus on force restructuring, enhancing jointness and integrating emerging technologies.During Op Sindoor, IAF carried out precision strikes on terror infrastructure across Pakistan, targeting locations such as Nur Khan and Rahimyar Khan air bases. The IAF also played a critical role in protecting Indian airspace during retaliatory drone and UAV attacks. A layered air defence grid, including the indigenously developed Akash missile system along with Pechora and OSA-AK platforms, was deployed effectively. The integrated air command and control system enabled real-time coordination, helping neutralise aerial threats and sustain net-centric operations throughout the conflict, the report said.The report also talked about the situation within J&K and along the Line of Control (LC), which had significantly altered during Op Sindoor. However, after the Director Generals of Military Operations (DGsMO)-level talks on May 10 and 12, 2025, the situation stabilised to a large extent, though the unpredictability continues, it said. In terms of infiltration bids in 2025, six such attempts were made by terrorists. Twelve Pakistani terrorists were neutralised while attempting infiltration along the LoC.While there is a decline in the frequency of infiltration along the LC as compared to previous years, it is assessed that infiltration attempts by terrorists are more focussed towards the International Border (IB) sector to include smuggling of narcotics and war-like stores. As compared to two ceasefire violations (CFVs) along LoC during 2024, 163 CFVs (124 CFVs during Op Sindoor) were recorded in 2025.