A high-ranking French intelligence officer has confirmed to CNN that one Rafale fighter jet operated by the Indian Air Force was downed by Pakistan in recent clashes between the two nations. This marks the first combat loss of the aircraft since its introduction in 2001.
According to reports, the incident occurred during overnight skirmishes along the Kashmir frontier, with Pakistan claiming to have shot down five Indian fighter jets, including three Rafales, using Chinese-made J-10C aircraft. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated, “They destroyed the planes of our attackers and enemies,” referring to Pakistan’s air force shooting down the Indian fighter aircraft.
Images have emerged online showing parts of a Rafale’s tailfin and rudder lying in a field in Bathinda, Punjab, with the serial number BS-001 identifying it as a single-seat Rafale EH. French authorities are investigating claims that multiple Rafale jets may have been shot down.
The PL-15 active-radar-guided air-to-air missile, reportedly used by Pakistan’s J-10C jets, is believed to have played a role in the incident. Pakistan’s use of the PL-15 missile in combat is a significant development, marking its first confirmed operational use.
The Indian Air Force has not officially confirmed the loss, but the French intelligence officer’s statement to CNN suggests that an investigation is underway to verify the claims. The incident has raised tensions between India and Pakistan, with both nations exchanging allegations and engaging in military actions along the Kashmir frontier.