IAF Rafales Return Dispels Pakistan's May Conflict Shootdown Claims
The return of three Rafale fighters from the Indian Air Force (IAF) — BS-021, BS-022, and BS-027 — for participation in the upcoming Indo-US Exercise Cope India 2025 has effectively countered Pakistan's claims of having shot down these aircraft during the conflict in May 2025.
Earlier this year, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) alleged that it had successfully downed the three Rafales using J-10CE fighters equipped with PL-15 missiles. However, the absence of any wreckage or radar and cockpit evidence to support these claims cast significant doubt on Islamabad's assertions.
Both Indian officials and Dassault Aviation were quick to refute the allegations, with CEO Éric Trappier labeling them as "inaccurate propaganda." Defence sources confirmed that no Rafale was lost during combat, and all aircraft fulfilled their deep-strike missions successfully in Operation Sindoor, leading to Pakistan seeking a ceasefire within 72 hours.
According to open-source intelligence (OSINT) and verified records of the IAF fleet, the Rafales — BS-021, BS-022, and BS-027 — remain active under the No. 101 Squadron "Falcons" based in Hasimara. Their participation in Cope India 2025 definitively refutes Pakistan's narrative.
Defence analysts highlight that the reappearance of these Rafales serves as a symbolic victory for the IAF, reinforcing its credibility and operational strength, while also exposing Pakistan's continued reliance on misinformation to bolster its wartime claims.
