Pakistan claims indian rafale destroyed

Indian Rafale destroyed by Pakistan. Analyzing the "Rafale Shotdown" Claims

On May 07, 2025, Pakistan claimed an Indian rafale destroyed in combat with Pakistan Air Force when India attacked several sites in Pakistan.

Pakistan also claimed 2-3 other aircraft were also destroyed possibly including a Mirage 2000 and Su-30 MKI. India, however has denied any news of claiming Pakistan destroyed rafale or any other fighter aircraft of Indian Air Force.

Indian Rafale Destroyed by Pakistan, what sources say

News started circulating on May 07, 2025 about Pakistan destroyed rafale. International media outlets started investigating the news right after Pakistan’s claim of destroying 5 fighter aircraft of Indian Air Force. India, has however, not responded or denied the claims of rafale downed by Pakistan.

BBC verify, however, investigated the claim of rafale shot down and confirmed the news. Video footage showing site of crash confirmed the news of rafale was destroyed. The wreckage was found near the city of Bhatinda, located in India’s state of Punjab. The video showed troops collecting the wreckage of the downed aircraft. Other clips were also seen of an object catching fire in the sky and fire on the ground in the area. Images on the internet also showed the tail of rafale aircraft with tail number BS-001 in the wreckage.

Two US officials has also claimed that Pakistan has destroyed at least two Indian Air Force aircraft using Chinese build J-10 fighter aircraft equipped with BVR (Beyond Visual Range) Air to Air Missiles and one of the destroyed aircraft was a rafale.

A French official also told CNN that at least one Rafale is destroyed by Pakistan further confirming the news of downing of rafale in combat.

Indian Rafale Destroyed: Why This Event is Important

Rafale is claimed to be as one of the most advanced fighter aircraft in the world. With it’s superior payload capacity, maneuverability, survivability and modern avionics. Rafale is also equipped with onboard electronic warfare suite known as SPECTRA (Self-Protection Equipment to Counter Threats for Rafale Aircraft), giving it high survivability against wide range of grand and airborne threats. With it’s superior situational awareness, early warning, long range and ability to carry cruise missiles and other standoff weapons. First aircraft was delivered to India in 2019 as part of modernization plan of Indian Air Force. Downing of rafale aircraft is significant as India will lose strategic technological edge over Pakistan.

If officially confirmed, this will mark the first confirmed kill of rafale in combat in the world and Pakistan Air Force will be the first air force in the world to destroy first 4.5 generation fighter aircraft in combat.

Aviation experts, military watchers and air forces around the world are already studying, examining and analyzing the news, possible scenarios, aircraft and air to air missile that shot down the rafale aircraft.

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