US declines to comment on Pakistan F-16 losses during Operation Sindoor despite IAF Chief's claims

The United States government has declined to comment on whether Pakistan lost any of its US-supplied F-16 fighter jets during Operation Sindoor, the 88-hour conflict between India and Pakistan from May 7 to May 10. Responding to NDTV’s queries, the US State Department stated, "We refer you to the Government of Pakistan to discuss its F-16s."

This position contrasts with previous disclosures highlighted in an NDTV report, which cited a 2019 article by Foreign Policy magazine. At the time, shortly after India's Balakot air strikes, the magazine reported that two senior US defence officials with direct knowledge of the situation had said all of Pakistan’s F-16s were accounted for. The clarification followed India’s claim that it had shot down a Pakistani F-16.

US contractors have access to Pakistani F-16's

Pakistan’s F-16 fleet is governed by detailed end-use agreements with the United States. Under these agreements, American contractors—known as Technical Support Teams (TSTs)—are deployed in Pakistan around the clock to monitor the aircraft. These teams are contractually obligated to ensure that the aircraft are used in compliance with the agreements and to maintain full knowledge of the operational status of each jet.

Also Read: 'Best deception ever seen': US F-16 pilot reveals how a 30 kg device fooled Pakistan into thinking it downed a Rafale

The presence of these oversight mechanisms has typically allowed the US to confirm or deny reports of losses, making its silence in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor notable.

IAF claims F-16 damage at Jacobabad during airfield strikes

India believes several F-16s may have been lost during the operation, either destroyed on the ground or shot down in aerial combat. On Saturday, Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh said that Shahbaz Jacobabad airfield, which houses an F-16 hangar, was among the major Pakistani air bases targeted.

"One half of the hangar is gone. And I'm sure there were some aircraft inside which have got damaged there," he said.

Also Read: DRDO develops minefield marking system for Indian Army to enable faster, semi-automated deployment

According to the Air Chief, the IAF carried out strikes on three critical airfield hangars: a UAV hangar at Sukkur, an AEW&C facility at Bholari, and the F-16 hangar at Jacobabad. He said indications pointed to at least one AEW&C aircraft and several F-16s under maintenance being present at the time of the strikes.

Jacobabad air base is home to Pakistan's 39 Tactical Wing and is located west of Rajasthan.

Air-to-air claims and Pakistan’s rebuttal

The Indian Air Force also claims to have shot down six Pakistani aircraft during the operation—five fighters and one larger platform, possibly an electronic intelligence (ELINT) or AEW&C aircraft. The IAF has not disclosed the exact types of fighter jets it believes were shot down.

Pakistan, meanwhile, has rejected India’s claims. Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif challenged India to allow a third-party review of both sides’ air force inventories. "If the truth is in question, let both sides open their aircraft inventories to independent verification – though we suspect this would lay bare the reality India seeks to obscure," he said. India has not responded to this suggestion.

No response from US to formal information requests

NDTV also submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the US Department of Defense, asking similar questions to those recently posed to the State Department. The Pentagon replied that the FOIA does not require agencies to “compile information, conduct research, answer questions, or create new documents in response to FOIA requests.” Subsequent queries to the Pentagon and the office of the Secretary of Defense received no response.