A senior French intelligence official has revealed to CNN that Pakistan shot down at least one Indian Rafale fighter jet during recent cross-border hostilities. This marks the first known loss of the advanced French-made aircraft in combat, highlighting a significant escalation in military tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
According to the official, French authorities are closely investigating the incident to assess the damage to India’s Rafale fleet and to understand the implications for the aircraft’s combat performance.
Pakistan has previously claimed to have destroyed five Indian aircraft—including three Rafales—in retaliation for Indian airstrikes. While India has not issued an official response, international observers are closely monitoring the situation. French intelligence agencies are also exploring the possibility that more than one Rafale may have been brought down.
Photographs from Indian-administered Kashmir show debris with French manufacturer markings, though defense experts caution that it is too early to conclusively identify the wreckage as part of a Rafale jet.
The reports have also impacted global markets, with shares of Dassault Aviation—the French company that manufactures the Rafale—falling on Wednesday.
The Rafale is a 10-ton, twin-engine, multi-role combat aircraft equipped with advanced weaponry, including air-to-air missiles, laser-guided bombs, and long-range cruise missiles. Prior to the conflict, the Indian Air Force operated a fleet of 36 Rafales, acquired through a high-profile defense agreement with France.
This incident raises concerns about the Rafale’s survivability in high-threat environments and may influence defense strategies in the region. With tensions escalating, the situation between India and Pakistan remains volatile and unpredictable.
