French Intelligence Official Confirms Pakistan Shot Down India’s Elite Rafale Fighter

Pakistan has shot down at least one Rafale fighter jet used by the Indian Air Force, CNN has reported quoting a top French intelligence official.

This would be the first time this advanced French-made jet has been destroyed in battle. The French official also said they are checking if more than one Rafale was brought down by Pakistan.

Photos of debris from a crashed aircraft show a label from a French company. However, experts said earlier it’s unclear if the parts are from a Rafale jet.

CNN said, Dassault Aviation, the company that makes the Rafale, has not replied to its request for comments.

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar had earlier said that Pakistan downed five Indian jets. Reuters reported that the Pakistani military said the five Indian fighter jets included three Rafale planes and one each of Russian planes, a Su-30 and MiG-29.