Global defense publication exposes loss of four Indian Rafale jets
A newly released global defense research report
has cast doubt on India’s assertions of air superiority, outlining substantial
losses allegedly suffered by the Indian
Air Force (IAF) during a 52-minute aerial confrontation with Pakistan in
May.
According to an analysis published by the
British defense journal AeroMagazine, four
Indian Rafale fighter jets were reportedly shot down during the engagement. The
aircraft identified in the report carry the serial numbers BS001, BS021, BS022,
and BS027. The publication notes that Indian authorities have not produced
verifiable photographic evidence to counter these claims.
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The report states that the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) employed a coordinated, multi-domain operational approach that overwhelmed Indian pilots and limited their ability to respond effectively. In addition to the Rafale losses, the IAF is said to have lost one MiG-29, one Su-30 fighter jet, and a Heron unmanned aerial vehicle.
It further claims that on May 10, Pakistani
JF-17 Block-3 aircraft struck and disabled India’s S-400 air defense system at
Udhampur, rendering it non-operational.
The assessment also alleges that Pakistani
forces destroyed an Indian command-and-control facility in Barnala, while cyber
units disrupted large segments of India’s digital and social media networks.
The report describes this operation as a rare and highly effective integration
of cyber warfare with conventional military tactics.
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Adding weight to the findings, India’s Chief of Defense Staff, General Anil Chauhan, reportedly acknowledged in a media interview that Indian aircraft were lost during the clash, lending confirmation to key elements of the report.
Source:
Daily Pakistan