A recent report on the French aviation site Avions Légendaires says that 35 of India’s current Rafale F3 fighter jets will be upgraded to the newer F4 standard as part of a broader modernization plan with France. This is tied to a larger planned contract that would include delivery of 90 new Rafale F4 aircraft and later up to 24 F5 jets.
If only 35 jets are being upgraded, rather than all 36 Rafales that India originally received under its first deal, it suggests that one aircraft may no longer be in service. Some observers see this as consistent with the claim that a Rafale was lost during a brief India-Pakistan military conflict in May 2025, where reports have circulated about combat losses involving India’s air force.
In other words, the fact that the upgrade count is 35 instead of 36 appears to imply a missing or retired aircraft, supporting the theory that one Rafale may have been lost — though no official confirmation has been issued.
Serial numbers of Indian Rafale jets shot down by Pakistan in May clash revealed
Recently a British defence publication also raised serious questions about India’s claims of air superiority, revealing the serial numbers of four Indian Rafale fighter jets allegedly shot down by Pakistan during the military confrontation between the two countries in May.
According to an investigative report published by Key Aero, a respected British defence magazine, the losses occurred during a 52-minute aerial engagement between the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and the Indian Air Force (IAF). The report suggests that the scale of Indian losses was far greater than officially acknowledged by New Delhi.
Serial Numbers of the Downed Rafale Jet Made Public
One of the most striking elements of the report is the disclosure of specific serial numbers of the downed Rafale jets. These are identified as:
• BS-001
• BS-021
• BS-022
• BS-027
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The journal notes that despite repeated claims by Indian authorities that no Rafale aircraft were lost, India has not presented verifiable photographic or operational evidence to contradict these serial-specific claims. This absence of proof, the report reveals, weakens India’s narrative.
Wider Indian Air Force Losses
Beyond the Rafale jets, Key Aero claims that India suffered additional losses during the clashes. These reportedly included:
• MiG-29 fighter aircraft
• Su-30 fighter jets
• One Heron unmanned aerial vehicle (drone)
According to the analysis, Pakistan’s coordinated air operations disrupted India’s command-and-control capabilities, leaving Indian pilots struggling to respond effectively during critical moments.
Pakistan’s Multi-Domain Operations
The report highlights Pakistan’s use of multi-domain warfare, combining air, cyber, and electronic operations. It claims that Pakistan’s approach temporarily paralysed Indian air operations, demonstrating a higher level of coordination than previously seen in South Asian conflicts.
A particularly significant claim is that on May 10, a JF-17C Block III aircraft successfully disabled and destroyed an Indian S-400 air defence system stationed at Udhampur—a system India considers central to its aerial defence network.
Cyber Warfare: A New Dimension
Key Aero also reports that Pakistani cyber units disrupted nearly 96 per cent of India’s digital and social networks during the confrontation. If this proves accurate, this would mark one of the first instances where an air force integrated cyber warfare so extensively with conventional combat operations.
If these findings are independently verified, they would massively change perceptions of air power balance in South Asia. More importantly, the report underscores how modern conflicts are no longer fought only in the skies—but across digital, electronic, and information domains as well.
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