Key points
- India admits loss of several fighter jets including Rafale: Top French newspaper
- These major losses reveal weaknesses of Indian Air Force
- Pakistan Air Force recently shot down five Indian aircrafts including Rafale
ISLAMABAD: Indian military strikes against Pakistan have revealed weaknesses of India’s air force, top French newspaper Le Monde said on Friday.
According to the newspaper, New Delhi has begun to admit the loss of several fighter jets including Rafale during the attacks. This would mark the first loss in combat for the French aircraft.
After attacks launched by India on the night of May 6 to 7 in Pakistan, the show of force intended by India is widely viewed by many military experts as a significant underperformance, the newspaper said.
Weaknesses of Indian Air Force
India was forced to acknowledge the loss of at least three fighter jets, including Rafale, and these major losses reveal the weaknesses of the Indian Air Force.
Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, said that five Indian Air Force aircraft, including three Rafales, a MiG-29 and a Sukhoi SU-30, were shot down by Pakistan in retaliation for strikes launched by India. He also highlighted the Pakistan Air Force’s prompt and effective retaliation to India’s misadventure, according to Reuters. Asif criticised the competence of Indian pilots flying Rafale jets, asserting that their lack of skill has even negatively impacted the aircraft manufacturer.
Speaking to CNN, a high-ranking French official also confirmed that Rafale operated by India had been shot down.
Three Indian fighter jets crashed on Wednesday on home territory, a senior Indian security source said, according to AFP.
Cowardly assault
Earlier, Pakistan military’s media wing, ISPR, on Thursday said that Pakistan’s Armed Forces have successfully shot down 29 Israeli-manufactured Harop drones launched from India, using both soft-kill (technical) and hard-kill (weapons) measures.
According to ISPR, India resorted to these drone attacks in a state of panic following the destruction of five of its modern aircraft, drones, multiple posts, and casualties in its ranks during its cowardly assault on May 6–7.
“So far, 29 Israel-made Harop drones have been shot down by Pakistan’s Armed Forces’ soft kill (technical) and hard kill (weapons) measures,” a statement issued by the ISPR said.
