French-made Rafale fighter jets were reportedly downed during the recent conflict between India and Pakistan, igniting extensive discussion. On Tuesday, a representative from the French Ministry of Armed Forces responded to questions from Phoenix TV during a routine press briefing, indicating that if the reports are verified, it would signify the first combat loss of a Rafale since it was introduced into service 20 years ago.
This also represents the first official comment from the French military regarding the issue, as reported by Phoenix TV on Wednesday. The video segment from Phoenix TV’s news quoted a spokesperson from the French Ministry of Armed Forces, who mentioned that the details of the incident remain unclear, with numerous aspects still unconfirmed.
According to some media reports, French-made Rafale fighter jets were shot down during the recent conflict between India and Pakistan, sparking widespread discussion. On Tuesday, a spokesperson for the French Ministry of Armed Forces addressed inquiries from Phoenix TV during a… pic.twitter.com/OsDPtDSOHh
— Global Times (@globaltimesnews) May 28, 2025
He stated that concerning the Rafale’s performance, France is vigilantly observing the situation and is in active communication with India to gather direct information. The spokesperson further noted that some reports suggest that hundreds of military aircraft participated in the engagement. The French aim to extract as many lessons as possible from this high-intensity combat situation.
If the reports of the Rafale being shot down are validated, it would indeed mark the first operational loss in its two-decade service history, he stated, according to Phoenix TV.
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