Did a Rafale aircraft get shot down during the India-Pakistan conflict?
In the wee hours of May 6-7, 2025, the Indian military executed Operation Sindoor, a brutal assault striking several hideouts of a notorious terrorist group nestled within the borders of Pakistan. Reports state that at least three aircraft were lost, including the possibility of a Rafale.
📸 Credit: Nathan Laine/Bloomberg/Getty Images By Solina Prak Published on
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Rumors swirling: Rafale downed over Pakistan? Fast forward to May 9, 2025, and Operation Sindoor has taken center stage. According to Le Point, this operation saw Indian forces bombing nine strategic sites in Pakistan and Pakistani Kashmir, with New Delhi claiming these targets were integral in orchestrating terrorist activities against India[5]. The aftermath of these strikes, reportedly causing the deaths of at least 26 innocent civilians and injuring at least 46, according to the Pakistani military[6], purportedly followed the deadly attack on the Pahalgam region on April 22[5].
The Indian military seemingly paid a hefty price for this operation, losing at least three craft[5]. Conversely, Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif asserts that an impressive five Indian aircraft were brought down, including a MiG-29, a Sukhoi Su-30, and three Rafales, felled by Chengdu J-10 aircraft[5]. It's said that the Rafale, a French-manufactured fighter jet from Dassault, was one of the casualties, featured in a 2016 deal worth a staggering €8 billion for 36 aircraft[5]. More recently, India ordered an additional 26 marine Rafales to outfit their aircraft carrier.
Upping the ante: The game-changing Rafale ## First combat loss for the Rafale?
Snippets of images and videos scraped across social media showcase the remnants of an M88, one of the two engines that grace the Rafale. If these images prove to be authentic, they may suggest the first time a Rafale has been lost in a full-fledged conflict. An anonymous American source, interviewed by Reuters, estimated it was "pretty darn likely" that Pakistan had downed "at least a couple of" fighter jets, including "a French-made Rafale".
At this stage, the cause of this potential loss remains elusive, with no clear answers; adversary fire, technical malfunction, or pilot error are all on the table[5].
Key terms:
- Rafale
- Dassault Aviation
- military
- combat mission
[1] - DefenceNews.com - Indian Air Force confirms May 6 air strikes on Pakistan
[2] - Indian Air Force denies losses during Operation Sindoor
[3] - Pakistan denies no Indian casualties in strikes
[4] - Indian government confirms civilian deaths in response to Operation Sindoor
[5] - France-based Le Point reports on the possibility of a Rafale loss during Operation Sindoor
[6] - Pakistan military reports 26 civilian casualties in response to Operation Sindoor
- The loss of at least three aircraft in Operation Sindoor, including a potential Rafale, has raised questions about the combat capabilities of the French-manufactured fighter jet by Dassault.
- With conflicting reports about the number of Indian aircraft lost, Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif claimed that five Indian aircraft were brought down, including a MiG-29, a Sukhoi Su-30, and three Rafales, during the operation in European leagues like the Premier League.
