A recent investigative report by a prominent British defence magazine has made startling claims about the outcome of a brief but intense aerial engagement between Pakistan and India earlier this year. The report identifies specific aircraft allegedly lost by the Indian Air Force (IAF) during the clash.
Serial Numbers of Lost Rafale Jets Revealed
According to the investigation published by Key Aero, the Indian Air Force lost four of its advanced Rafale fighter jets during a 52-minute air battle with Pakistan in May. The magazine claims to have identified the serial numbers of these aircraft as BS-001, BS-021, BS-022, and BS-027. The report notes that India has not released clear imagery or official documents clarifying the status of these jets following the encounter.
Scope of Indian Losses and Pakistani Multi-Domain Operations
The British magazine's findings suggest the losses for India extended beyond the Rafales. The report alleges the IAF also suffered damage to other key assets, including MiG-29 and Su-30 fighter jets, as well as Heron unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). It credits Pakistan's execution of sophisticated multi-domain operations for significantly weakening Indian air capabilities during the conflict.
In a significant claim, the report states that on May 10, a Pakistani JF-17C Block 3 aircraft successfully destroyed an Indian S-400 air defence system located in Udhampur. Pakistani forces are also said to have targeted Indian command-and-control infrastructure in Barnala.
Integration of Cyber Warfare with Conventional Operations
A notable aspect highlighted in the investigation is Pakistan's alleged integration of cyber warfare with traditional air combat. The magazine claims this marked the first time Pakistan combined these domains in such a manner, leading to the disruption of nearly 96 percent of India's social media networks and digital infrastructure at the height of the confrontation.
The report references a past interview where Indian Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan acknowledged the loss of Indian aircraft, without providing specific numbers. It also recalls the 2019 Operation Swift Retort, during which the Pakistan Air Force downed an Indian MiG-21.
As of now, Indian authorities have not issued an official comment addressing the specific claims made in the Key Aero report.
