The French military has responded cautiously to reports that a Rafale fighter jet was shot down by the Pakistan Air Force during the recent hostilities between India and Pakistan. Speaking at a press briefing in Paris, a French military spokesperson emphasized that the incident remains unverified and is under active assessment.
“We are closely monitoring the situation concerning the Rafale’s performance and are in direct contact with our partner, India, to obtain accurate information,” the spokesperson stated. He acknowledged that hundreds of aircraft were reportedly involved in the conflict, complicating immediate verification.
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The spokesperson noted that if confirmed, this would be the first loss of a Rafale jet in over 20 years of operational use — a development France is keen to investigate thoroughly. He added that France is eager to study the combat experience to assess the jet’s performance and resilience in real-time warfare.
The incident comes amid heightened regional tensions and could have implications for future arms deals and defense strategies.
