The recent return of three Indian Air Force (IAF) Rafale fighters, designated BS-021, BS-022, and BS-027, to participate in the upcoming Indo-US Exercise Cope India 2025 has starkly countered Pakistan’s claims regarding the downing of these aircraft during the conflict earlier this year.
During the heightened tensions in May 2025, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) had asserted that it successfully shot down three Rafale fighters using its J-10CE jets armed with PL-15 missiles. However, the absence of any wreckage, combined with a lack of radar or cockpit evidence, has led many to question the veracity of Islamabad’s statements.
In response to these assertions, Indian officials and Dassault Aviation strongly refuted the claims. Éric Trappier, CEO of Dassault Aviation, labeled the allegations as “inaccurate propaganda.” Defence sources corroborated that none of the Rafale aircraft were lost in combat, indicating that all completed their deep-strike missions without incident during Operation Sindoor, which compelled Pakistan to initiate a ceasefire within a mere 72 hours.
Further investigation utilizing open-source intelligence (OSINT) and verified records from the IAF has confirmed the operational status of all three Rafales, which are currently part of No. 101 Squadron “Falcons” based in Hasimara. Their participation in the Cope India 2025 exercise serves as concrete evidence against Pakistan’s narrative of success in the recent conflict.
Defence analysts interpret the reappearance of these Rafales as a symbolic victory for the IAF, reinforcing its credibility and operational readiness. This situation also unveils Pakistan’s continued reliance on misinformation to bolster its perceived wartime achievements, thereby bringing attention to the importance of substantiated claims in military confrontations.
