The return of three Indian Air Force (IAF) Rafale fighters — BS-021, BS-022, and BS-027 — for participation in the upcoming Indo-US Exercise Cope India 2025 has effectively debunked Pakistan’s repeated claims of having shot down these aircraft during the May 2025 conflict.
During the confrontation earlier this year, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) had falsely asserted that it had downed three Rafales using J-10CE fighters and PL-15 missiles. However, neither wreckage nor radar or cockpit evidence was ever presented, raising doubts about Islamabad’s claims.
Indian officials and Dassault Aviation swiftly dismissed the allegations, with CEO Éric Trappier calling them “inaccurate propaganda.” Defence sources confirmed that no Rafale was lost in combat and that all aircraft completed their deep-strike missions successfully during Operation Sindoor, forcing Pakistan to seek a ceasefire within 72 hours.
According to open-source intelligence (OSINT) and verified IAF fleet records, all three Rafales — BS-021, BS-022, and BS-027 — remain operational under No. 101 Squadron “Falcons” based in Hasimara. Their inclusion in the Cope India 2025 lineup conclusively disproves Pakistan’s narrative.
Defence analysts note that the resurfacing of these Rafales stands as a symbolic victory for the IAF, reaffirming its credibility and operational resilience, while exposing Pakistan’s persistent use of misinformation to inflate its wartime record.
