Pakistan shot down 2 Indian jets including Rafale: US officials

Chinese-manufactured fighter jets used by Pakistan reportedly shot down at least two Indian military aircraft, according to two U.S. officials speaking to Reuters.

The U.S. officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, stated with high confidence that Pakistan deployed its Chinese-made J-10 fighter jets in air-to-air combat against Indian forces. One of the aircraft reportedly downed was identified as a French-made Rafale fighter, part of India’s recently upgraded fleet.

Both sources clarified that U.S.-made F-16s, also in Pakistan’s arsenal, were not involved in the incident.

Pakistan’s Defense Minister, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, told Reuters on Thursday that three Indian Rafales were downed using the J-10, and claimed a total of five Indian aircraft were shot down in air-to-air engagements.

While Reuters had earlier cited local Indian officials reporting the downing of three planes, this new information marks the first confirmation from Western sources attributing the strikes to Chinese-origin jets.

The incident is drawing close attention in Washington, where defense analysts are monitoring the performance of Chinese military hardware in live combat for indications of how it might perform in future conflicts, including potential scenarios involving Taiwan or the Indo-Pacific region.

In Paris, Dassault Aviation, which manufactures the Rafale, and MBDA, which produces the Meteor missile used on the aircraft, could not be reached for comment due to a public holiday.

The J-10 and Rafale are both classified as generation 4.5 fighter jets, placing them among the most advanced operational non-stealth aircraft globally.

The international community, including the United States, Russia, and China, has called for restraint as tensions rise between the nuclear-armed neighbors, which have fought three major wars since independence and continue to face off over the disputed Kashmir region.