Islamabad: Pakistan’s highly skilled pilots secured a significant victory by downing three Indian Rafale jets in response to India’s cowardly aggression, named ‘Operation Sindoor’, exposing significant flaws in New Delhi’s air defense capabilities and effectively shattering its hopes of achieving aerial superiority in South Asia.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Pakistan’s Air Force (PAF) downed a total of five Indian fighter jets, which included three Rafale planes, as well as a Su-30 and a MiG-29. In addition to this, PAF launched targeted strikes on an Indian brigade headquarters and multiple military posts, forcing many Indian soldiers to flee.
The downing of three Rafale fighter jets in particular has sent shockwaves through the Indian Air Force (IAF), revealing vulnerabilities in what India had touted as its most advanced fighter aircraft. It also dealt a devastating financial blow to the IAF. With each RAfale jet costing India approximately $277 million, nearly double the global market rate of $125 million, the total loss amounts to staggering $831 million. Aljazeera reported that stock shares of French company that manufactures the Rafale, Dassault Aviation, plummeted after the incident. This is not just a setback but a major embarrassment for a country that claimed technological superiority but failed miserably in operational performance.
The Rafales were initially procured by India to fill critical gaps in its air capabilities, particularly following Pakistan’s Operation Swift Retort in 2019. India had hoped that these jets would help cement its air superiority in the region, but the recent downing has exposed the flaws in their operational use. The PAF’s cutting edge JF-17 Thunder, often seen as a budget-friendly alternative to the Rafale, demonstrated superior operational performance, leaving the French-made jets vulnerable and ineffective in Indian hands.
Beyond the financial loss, the downing of Rafales has highlighted the IAF’s operational incompetence with respect to Pakistan’s well trained Air Force which is not only superior in technology but also firm in resolve and faith. The IAF’s average crash rate of 4.67 aircraft per year, according to data from Airpowerasia.com, points to deeper systemic issues that cannot be ignored.
Moreover, the Rafale’s disappointing performance in the hands of Indian pilots has cast a shadow on its effectiveness, damaging France’s reputation as a reliable defense exporter, negatively impacting Rafael market. Social media users on platforms like X have joked that France may have inavertently sold the jets with a “self-destruct” feature, while French officials are reportedly wondering if Indian pilots possess the capability to fully exploit the Rafale’s advanced technology. K
