In the wake of “Operation Sindoor,” launched by India in the early hours on May 7, 2025. The operation targeted nine sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), aiming to dismantle terrorist infrastructures. India emphasised that the strikes were precise and avoided Pakistani military installations to prevent escalation.
A video circulating on social media amid the heightened tensions between India and Pakistan is being claimed to show an Indian Rafale jet shot down near the Poonch sector. Pylon marking and MICA air-to-air missile show it is indeed a Rafale fighter jet that was downed by a Pakistani AMRAAM.
Backed by Saab 2000 AEW&C, F-16 fired the AMRAAM missiles while Pakistani Air Force fighters were in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir surprised the Indian Air Force as the PAF overtook the Indian control area.
Due to effective defensive measures, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) once again timely surprised India’s attempt to advance towards Pakistan a few days ago, forcing India’s modern Rafale aircraft to retreat.
The PAF thwarted India’s advance on the night between April 29 and May 6. According to relevant sources, the PAF took this action the same night when Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar expressed the fear that India could attack Pakistan in the following 24 to 36 hours.
Rafale on Patrol
The sources said four Indian Rafale aircraft took off from the Ambala air base in the Indian state of Haryana and moved towards Pakistan at a ground speed of 1,200 kilometres. The Indian aircraft came very close to the Pakistani airspace, but at no time did they cross it.
However, since these aircraft were equipped with modern Spice 2000 air-to-ground missiles, which have a range of 200 kilometres, this action of the Indian Air Force (IAF) was a hostile act because the Indian aircraft could have carried out ground operations in Pakistan while remaining in their own airspace.
According to sources, at the same time, F-16C planes of the PAF were also in the air to confront the Indian planes and prevent any aggression. Due to this situation, the Indian planes had to make an emergency landing in Srinagar instead of returning to Ambala.
It is pertinent to mention here that the Rafale planes were equipped with missiles with a range of 110km that night, but the F-16C planes of the Pakistan Air Force were equipped with AMRAAM missiles with beyond visual range of 110km. This means that the Pakistani aircraft were also in a position to target the Indian aircraft while remaining within their own territory.
Another interesting point to note is the fact that the Pakistan Air Force dealt with the four Rafale aircraft on the night between April 29 and 30 in the same manner that were spotted by Saab 2000 AWACS.
According to relevant sources, after facing failure on the night between April 29 and April 30, the IAF planned to take action in Pakistan on Friday.
But as soon as the intelligence of this matter was received, Pakistan immediately had 40 to 50 aircraft airborne, including F-16.
This means India has once again faced a setback similar to 2019.
Pakistan has thwarted India’s most advanced Rafale aircraft. India had pinned many hopes on the Rafale aircraft in 2019. After the 2019 setback, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had himself admitted his defeat and said that if India had Rafale at that time, the outcome would have been different.
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