India Confirms Jets Shot Down by Pakistan During May Conflict: Rafales, Su-30, Mirage Among Losses

India Confirms Loss of Fighter Jets in May 2025 Skirmish with Pakistan

India’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Anil Chauhan, confirmed on Saturday that Indian fighter jets were shot down by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) during a four-day military confrontation earlier in May 2025.

Air Clash Sparked by Indian Missile Strikes on Pakistani Territory

The air conflict reportedly began on the night of May 6–7, after Indian Air Force (IAF) jets launched late-night missile strikes on six sites in Pakistan, including:

• Subhan Mosque, Ahmedpur East (Bahawalpur)

• Bilal Mosque, Muzaffarabad

• Abbas Mosque, Kotli

• Umalkura Mosque, Muridke

• Kotki Lohara village, Sialkot district

• Shakargarh

In response, the Pakistan Air Force launched counter-operations and successfully shot down six Indian jets within a 40-minute window, according to a report by Dawn. The aircraft downed reportedly included:

• Three Rafale jets

• One Su-30MKI

• One Mirage 2000

• One MiG-29

Interestingly, not a single Pakistani jet is reported to have crossed the border or engaged in close-range air combat.

General Chauhan’s Remarks: “Not the Jets, But the Why”

Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore to Bloomberg, General Chauhan stated:

“I think what is important is not the jets being downed but why the jets were shot down.”

When asked directly, he confirmed that Indian jets had indeed been shot down during the heightened tensions. However, he emphasized that the causes and India’s subsequent military response were more critical.

He also clarified that despite the intense air exchanges, the situation never approached the threshold of nuclear war.

International Confirmation from U.S. and France

Several international sources corroborated Pakistan’s claims:

• CNN cited a senior U.S. official confirming a Pakistani jet shot down at least one Indian aircraft using Chinese-made fighter planes.

• A French intelligence officer told CNN that one Indian Rafale jet was downed by Pakistan during the skirmish.

• Reuters reported similar details, backing Pakistani operational claims.

Washington Post Verifies Jet Debris Through OSINT

The Washington Post also verified the downing of Indian jets through open-source intelligence (OSINT). With help from:

• Trevor Ball, former U.S. Army EOD technician

• Etienne Marcuz, Foundation for Strategic Research

• An anonymous French air power expert

They analyzed images and videos circulated online and confirmed the debris belonged to a Rafale and a Mirage 2000 — both operated by the Indian Air Force.

Drones, Airbase Strikes, and Ceasefire

Following the jet downings, Pakistan intercepted several Indian drones on May 8. This was followed by retaliatory strikes on each other’s airbases during the night of May 9–10.

Tensions de-escalated only after a U.S.-brokered ceasefire was implemented on May 10, ending a week-long spike in regional hostilities.

Background: Pahalgam Attack Allegations and Escalation

India’s air strikes were reportedly in response to the Pahalgam attack, which it attributed to actors based in Pakistan. However, Islamabad strongly denied involvement and called for an independent probe.

Despite Pakistan’s request, India launched what it described as a “pre-emptive strike,” which led to the aerial showdown and subsequent loss of Indian aircraft.

Conclusion

The May 2025 conflict between India and Pakistan marks one of the most significant air engagements in South Asia in decades. While India has now acknowledged the loss of jets, the full operational and strategic implications of this clash remain under close global scrutiny.