Pakistan Shotdown Rafale Jets; France’s Official Reaction

Web Desk: The long-awaited response from the French military has finally arrived regarding the unprecedented aerial battle between Pakistan and India during the night of May 6th and 7th, in which Pakistan Air Force reportedly shot down Rafale jets.

During a press briefing in Paris yesterday, a journalist asked about the destruction of Rafale jets in the Pakistan-India conflict. In response, the French military spokesperson said that the details of the incident remain uncertain and many aspects still require verification.

He stated that they are closely monitoring the reports regarding Rafale’s performance and are in direct contact with their partner, India, to gather accurate information.

Referring to various reports, the spokesperson added that hundreds of aircraft took part in the battle, and France is eager to learn as much as possible from the experience. If the reports of Rafales being shot down are confirmed, it would mark the first such incident in the aircraft’s two-decade operational history.

International media has already described the destruction of advanced Rafale jets by the Pakistan Air Force as a humiliating defeat for India. According to military analysts, Pakistan has, for the first time, demonstrated its air superiority over India by downing such advanced jets.

It’s worth noting that India continues to deny Pakistan’s claim of downing seven jets. However, during a briefing on May 9, in response to a question about the loss of Rafale jets, Indian Air Marshal A.K. Bharti stated, “Losses are part of warfare, and I cannot share further details as it could benefit the adversary.”

India had purchased 36 Rafale jets from France after losing two of its aircraft to Pakistan in 2019. According to recent reports, Pakistan may have destroyed at least four of them in the latest conflict.