The Press Information Bureau’s Fact Check unit has officially dismissed false claims alleging that a Pakistani military operation downed an Indian Rafale fighter jet near the Line of Control (LoC) in the Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir. Investigations confirmed that the video fueling the narrative was actually from an unrelated incident involving a Sukhoi-30MKI crash in Maharashtra in June 2024.
The misinformation, circulated by several pro-Pakistan platforms, claimed a successful strike by the Pakistan Army on an Indian Air Force (IAF) Rafale jet. However, the PIB clarified that no Rafale or any other aircraft has been reported lost by the IAF in the region. The video used to support the claim was traced to a June 4, 2024 crash of a Sukhoi-30MKI (tail number SB-182) in Shirasgaon village, Nashik district. In that incident, both pilots, Wing Commander Bokil and Second-in-Command Biswas, safely ejected.
This is not the first instance of misinformation involving India’s military assets. In 2020, similar false claims emerged from a Chinese source suggesting that the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) had shot down an Indian Sukhoi Su-30 in Tibet—later debunked. During the 2019 Balakot airstrike fallout, Pakistan also claimed to have shot down a Sukhoi-30MKI, though India confirmed the loss of only a MiG-21 Bison, flown by Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who was captured and later returned.
The Sukhoi-30MKI remains a core component of India’s air defense, with 272 units delivered by 2024. The aircraft has been at the forefront of several high-profile operations, including airspace interceptions and post-strike defensive actions. Notably, during the 2019 skirmish, Sukhoi-30MKIs played a defensive role alongside Mirage 2000s and MiG-21s to repel incoming Pakistani jets over the Poonch and Krishna Gati sectors.
India continues to invest in the Sukhoi fleet under the “Super Sukhoi” upgrade initiative. In 2023, the government approved a ₹11,500 crore deal for 12 new Su-30MKIs with over 60% indigenous components. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has achieved significant localization, exceeding 80% indigenization by 2017. Enhancements include state-of-the-art electronic warfare suites, such as the DARE High Band Jammer Pod and the Dhruti Radar Warning System.
The PIB has urged citizens to verify information from credible sources and avoid falling for viral but misleading narratives, especially those with geopolitical implications. It warned that such disinformation campaigns, particularly in the context of Indo-Pak tensions, could inflame public sentiment and destabilize diplomatic efforts.
Amid renewed calls for stricter control of misinformation—including suggestions to ban accounts disseminating fake news and impose diplomatic retaliations like restricting Pakistani overflights—the PIB reiterated the importance of timely, transparent fact-checking to maintain peace and prevent escalation.
