LONDON: The serial numbers of four Indian Rafale fighter jets allegedly shot down by Pakistan during the May aerial confrontation have been identified, according to an investigative report published by British defence magazine Key Aero.
The report states that during a 52-minute air engagement between Pakistan and India, the Indian Air Force lost four Rafale aircraft bearing the serial numbers BS-001, BS-021, BS-022 and BS-027. It noted that India did not release clear imagery or official documentation confirming the status of the aircraft involved.
According to Key Aero, Pakistan employed coordinated multi-domain operations that significantly degraded Indian air capabilities during the encounter. In addition to the Rafale losses, the report claimed that India also lost MiG-29 and Su-30 fighter aircraft, as well as Heron unmanned aerial vehicles.
The magazine further reported that on May 10, a Pakistan Air Force JF-17C Block-III aircraft destroyed an Indian S-400 air defence system in Udhampur, while Pakistani forces also targeted an Indian command-and-control facility in Barnala.
The report described the operation as unprecedented, stating that Pakistan integrated cyber warfare with conventional aerial operations. This combined approach reportedly disrupted nearly 96 percent of India’s digital and social network infrastructure during the conflict.
Key Aero also referenced a previous interview with Indian Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, in which he acknowledged the loss of Indian aircraft, though without providing specific details. The magazine placed the incident in context by recalling Pakistan Air Force’s downing of an Indian MiG-21 during Operation Swift Retort, following the 2019 crisis.
