India's nighttime raid loses first Rafale to Pakistan conflict
The nighttime attack by India on Pakistan from May 6 to May 7, 2025, resulted in the loss of at least one Rafale aircraft. This is a very painful loss, considering that only 36 such aircraft are in service.
Several photos have already appeared online showing elements that could match a Rafale aircraft, such as parts of engines. However, the appearance of a vertical stabilizer with the aircraft's number and a statement from a high-ranking French intelligence official to CNN dispel any doubts. This would be the second loss of an aircraft by the IAF, as the first one is likely a Mirage 2000.
It seems that India lost the aircraft numbered BS-001, which is the first one received from France. This is a significant loss for the Indian Air Force, which is still undergoing a slow process of replacing its outdated fleet with new aircraft.
Rafale — one of the best machines in the Indian Air Force
Currently, India has 36 Rafale aircraft, and between 2028 and 2030, 26 units of the naval version Rafale M will join them. They are the main strength of the Indian Air Force alongside the Su-30MKI, which is equipped with Western avionics.
Rafale aircraft first flew in the 1990s and entered service in 2001. Interestingly, the first units were in the naval version M, and only later did the land versions C and B (single and two-seater) enter service. India became the second operator of these aircraft long before the recent export boom for these machines.
Rafale — multirole platform with enormous capabilities
The Rafale is known for its excellent maneuverability, equipped with a rich set of sensors ranging from a passive IRST system to a modern radar with active electronically scanned array (AESA) and an advanced electronic warfare suite. Unfortunately, it is unknown how the Pakistanis captured the first Indian Rafale.
Moreover, the Rafale can carry over 20,000 pounds of armament on 13 or 14 pylons, depending on whether it is the naval or land version. Available options include long-range air-to-air Meteor missiles, short/medium-range air-to-air MICA missiles (variants guided with RF radar or IIR heat source), AM 39-Exocet anti-ship missiles, Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG cruise missiles, guided bombs AASM Hammer, and even ASMP-A missiles with thermonuclear warheads (exclusively available for France).
This impressive arsenal significantly enhances the combat capabilities of the Rafale aircraft, even though it is not built with stealth technology. Consequently, combined with France's relatively liberal approach to arms exports, which is less restrictive than that of the US, where specific foreign policy considerations must be made, the Rafale has become an attractive choice in the international market. There are many countries worldwide eager to maintain independence from American influences while possessing equipment superior to Russian solutions.
