Rafale downed for first time? Conflicting claims emerge after India's strike

Highlights:

• Pakistan claims downing Rafale during India's "Operation Sindoor"
• India's PIB debunks claims, says old MiG-21 crash images used for claim
• French intel official confirms Pakistan's Rafale downing claim to CNN
• Rafale faces first combat loss claim over 2 decades of service
• Downed Rafale would be a significant loss for Indian Air Force

The aftermath of India's "Operation Sindoor" yesterday (7 May) has been dominated by a claim from Islamabad: the downing of multiple Indian aircraft, including the prized Dassault Rafale fighter jet. 

Pakistan's claim marks a historic first, as the Rafale, since entering service with the French Navy in 2004 and French Air Force in 2006, has not been publicly acknowledged as having been lost in combat over the last two decades. 

Pakistani authorities and media were quick to publicise these claims, with some reports suggesting multiple Rafales were among the Indian warplanes purportedly shot down during retaliatory actions.

During his speech at Pakistan's National Assembly late yesterday (7 May), Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said Chinese J-10C fighter jets were used to shoot down five Indian fighter jets along the border, including French-made Rafale jets, reports Pakistan's government-run media, Associated Press of Pakistan (APP). 

Pakistan says it used Chinese fighter jets to down Indian jets, including Rafale: Associated Press of Pakistan

He also confirmed that China, a key ally, was promptly updated, with a delegation visiting Pakistan's Foreign Office at 4am after the incident.

However, this narrative immediately faced scrutiny. 

India's Press Information Bureau (PIB) actively sought to debunk these claims, specifically addressing the allegations surrounding the Rafale. 

According to a post on the verified X page, PIB Fact Check, the images circulating online, purported to be evidence of a downed Rafale, are from an earlier incident involving an IAF MiG-21 fighter jet that crashed in Moga district in Punjab in 2021.

Adding a twist to the unfolding situation, a CNN report cited a high-ranking French intelligence official who confirmed the Pakistani claim of downing an Indian Rafale.

This reported confirmation from a senior intelligence figure in France, the Rafale's country of origin, carries significant weight. 

The French official told CNN that French authorities were looking into whether more than one Rafale jets were shot down by Pakistan overnight.

If verified, the downing of the Rafale fighters would represent the most significant loss for the Indian Air Force in decades and could signal a turning point in the volatile relations between the nuclear-armed neighbours, reports the UK's The Independent.

On the ground, reports from India offered a mixed and inconclusive picture. Eyewitnesses in Punjab reported observing an "unidentified aircraft crash[ing] in a field," while separate reports detailed the discovery of "aircraft parts in Jammu and Kashmir." 

Meanwhile, photos from Wuyan, a village in India-administered Kashmir, showed wreckage believed to be an external fuel tank. 

Trevor Ball, an associate researcher at Armament Research Services, told the Independent that it likely belonged to a Mirage or Rafale aircraft, though he could not confirm whether the plane had been shot down.

A brief history of the Dassault Rafale

The Dassault Rafale's journey began in the 1980s as France sought to replace its aging fleet of fighter jets with a versatile, multirole combat aircraft. 

The programme aimed to produce an aircraft capable of air superiority, ground attack, and nuclear deterrence, among other roles. 

The first prototype flew in 1986, and after overcoming development challenges, the Rafale entered service with the French Air Force and Navy in the early 2000s.

Shot down Indian jets were Rafale bought from France

The Rafale is renowned for its "omnirole" capabilities, allowing it to perform a wide spectrum of missions during a single mission. 

Its advanced features include the "RBE2-AA active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar" for superior target detection and tracking, and the sophisticated "Spectra electronic warfare system" for enhanced survivability against modern threats. 

The aircraft is also capable of carrying a diverse array of advanced weaponry, including the "Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile" and the "SCALP cruise missile," making it a formidable platform in both air-to-air and air-to-ground engagements. 

Rafale's delta wing design with active canards provides exceptional maneuverability, while its low radar cross-section enhances its stealth capabilities.

Rafale's entry to India

India became one of the Rafale's key international customers, ordering 36 aircraft in a deal finalised in 2016. 

These jets have been inducted into the Indian Air Force and are considered a significant force multiplier, enhancing India's air power with their advanced technology and capabilities. 

Before the recent claims, there had been no confirmed reports of a Rafale aircraft being lost in combat or through enemy action.