France’s Dassault Rafale fighter jet has stood as a symbol of modern aerial warfare superiority—proven in combat, respected globally, and free from the blemish of fatal combat loss. That aura of invincibility has, however, come under scrutiny following a brief yet intensely consequential four-day air war between India and Pakistan in May 2025. The battle saw both nations deploying some of their most advanced military assets in a high-tech aerial engagement that has left more questions than answers.
At the center of the storm lies an unverified but explosive claim: that Pakistan Air Force (PAF) shot down three Indian Rafale fighters during “Operation Sindoor.” While the Indian Air Force (IAF) has acknowledged combat losses during the conflict, it has not disclosed the number or types of aircraft lost, leaving a vacuum filled by speculation, disinformation, and nationalistic media spins on both sides.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s bold claims have been met with sharp skepticism from both Indian military sources and Dassault Aviation itself. The episode has triggered a strategic re-evaluation of airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) capabilities by both India’s adversary and Dassault’s home country, France—indicating that the next frontier in air dominance might be defined not just by stealth and speed, but by sensors, data fusion, and integrated “kill chains.”
On May 27, just days after the cessation of hostilities, Pakistan’s Ministry of Defence publicly claimed that PAF fighters, with support from their AEW&C platforms, had downed six Indian Air Force jets—three of which were allegedly Rafales. Pakistani media heralded this as a watershed moment in modern air warfare, suggesting it marked the first-ever combat losses of Dassault’s pride and a moment of parity in a traditionally one-sided narrative of air superiority tilted towards India.
However, when pressed for evidence, Pakistan was unable to present verifiable wreckage, imagery, or pilot confirmations. Despite extensive coverage by Pakistani news outlets, no high-resolution satellite images, confirmed radar tracks, or pilot testimonies emerged to support the bold assertion.
Key IAF sources told Indian media that while some aircraft were lost, the claim about three Rafales being downed was “categorically false.” A senior official, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated:
“Our Rafales returned to base with minor damage in two cases, but none were lost. We challenge Pakistan to present irrefutable evidence, not rhetoric.”
Dassault Aviation’s CEO, Eric Trappier, also dismissed the Pakistani statement in an interview with a leading French defense publication:
“What Pakistan is claiming about downing three Rafales is simply not true. The Rafale continues to be one of the most combat-survivable platforms on Earth. Any lessons that arise from this conflict will be used to enhance it further.”
Still, the lack of transparent information from the IAF has led to persistent whispers in defense circles. Could there be a grain of truth behind Pakistan’s claim, hidden beneath national pride and strategic ambiguity?
Though the Rafale’s fate remains unclear, one point has drawn consensus: the central role played by Pakistan’s Saab 2000 Erieye AEW&C aircraft in shaping the aerial battlefield.
According to numerous Pakistani sources, including semi-official defense forums and leaks, the Erieye AEW&C acted as the brain of the PAF’s kill chain. By integrating inputs from radar stations, ground-based air defense systems, and possibly even Chinese-origin surveillance satellites, the Erieye aircraft helped Pakistani fighter jets—primarily JF-17s and J-10CEs—engage with Indian aircraft more effectively.
This level of networked warfare, described by analysts as a “mature integrated air battle strategy,” was a first for the region and marks a significant advancement in PAF’s operational doctrine. The Erieye’s advanced radar and real-time data dissemination allowed Pakistani fighters to take preemptive positions, effectively ambushing Indian aircraft without entering direct radar detection zones.
“It wasn’t just about shooting missiles; it was about seeing first and shooting first,” said retired Air Commodore Ahmed Tariq, now a defense analyst based in Islamabad. “Our Erieyes gave us that vision.”
The Indian Air Force’s silence has been both strategic and controversial. While it confirmed combat operations and some losses, there has been no admission or denial about Rafale involvement. This ambiguity has led to criticism from defense analysts and veterans, many of whom argue that public trust is best served through transparency.
“It’s possible that India wants to avoid giving credibility to Pakistan’s claims by not responding directly,” said Air Marshal (Retd.) M. Mathur. “But if we indeed lost a Rafale—or more—it is crucial that we analyze it openly. The real enemy is not embarrassment; it’s complacency.”
The IAF has reportedly begun internal assessments and simulations, using lessons from Operation Sindoor to reevaluate fleet vulnerabilities, especially against AEW&C-integrated strike formations.
Interestingly, while Pakistan was basking in its apparent victory, reports emerged that it had suffered significant losses of its own—specifically to its prized AEW&C platforms.
Unconfirmed Indian media reports claimed that two of Pakistan’s Saab 2000 Erieye AEW&C aircraft were destroyed—one by India’s formidable S-400 Triumf air defense system and another in a pre-dawn missile strike on the PAF’s Bholari Air Base.
If true, this would represent a massive blow to Pakistan’s airborne surveillance capability. Prior to the war, PAF was believed to operate nine Saab 2000 Erieye AEW&C aircraft. The loss of two, or even one, would significantly hamper its early warning network.
In what appeared to be an immediate countermeasure, the Pakistani government announced its intention to procure the Chinese KJ-500 AEW&C system. The KJ-500, based on the Y-9 transport aircraft, is known for its powerful phased-array radar and is considered a step up from the older Erieye systems in terms of detection range and resistance to jamming.
While Pakistan turns to China, France appears to be moving closer to Sweden for its AEW&C needs. In a development laced with irony, the same country whose AEW&C tech allegedly assisted in downing Rafales may now be supplying France with a newer and more powerful version of that very system.
At the Paris Air Show this month, Saab and France’s defense procurement agency, Direction Générale de l’Armement (DGA), signed a joint declaration of intent to purchase the GlobalEye AEW&C system—an advanced successor to the Saab 2000 Erieye.
The DGA plans to procure two GlobalEye aircraft with an option for two more, signaling a complete modernization of France’s airborne surveillance fleet, currently based around aging Boeing E3-F Sentry aircraft.
“Our solution will enable France to maintain full sovereign control of its airborne early warning and control capability,” said Saab CEO Micael Johansson.
Built on the Bombardier Global 6500 business jet platform, the GlobalEye combines multiple radar and sensor systems capable of simultaneously tracking targets across air, land, and sea domains. It uses the powerful Erieye ER radar, among other sensors, and offers real-time integration with allied assets—a capability deemed crucial in modern network-centric warfare.
Dassault Aviation has a dual challenge ahead. First, if any Rafale was indeed lost to a kill-chain involving Saab’s Erieye system, that tactical shortcoming must be addressed—especially in terms of electronic warfare vulnerability and real-time threat awareness. Second, if France inducts the GlobalEye, it will offer Dassault an opportunity to co-develop advanced training scenarios where Rafales engage in coordinated drills with GlobalEye support.
This could eventually bolster the Rafale’s survivability in AEW&C-dominated battle zones, especially if Dassault integrates tighter data-link compatibility and AI-based threat-avoidance systems into the fighter.
“With Rafales already serving in France, India, Greece, Egypt, and soon Indonesia, keeping it at the cutting edge of aerial warfare isn’t just a matter of national pride—it’s an export imperative,” said defense analyst Laurent Marchand.
In modern air combat, the ability to see beyond the horizon and make split-second decisions based on integrated battlefield data can determine the outcome before the first missile is even launched. This has been starkly demonstrated in the recent India-Pakistan conflict, where airborne surveillance systems shaped tactical choices and possibly even swung outcomes.
Pakistan may have fired the first rhetorical shot with its claims about the Rafale, but the underlying strategic message is clear for all players: air superiority is no longer about the dogfight—it’s about data, integration, and coordinated strike networks.
France’s decision to move forward with the GlobalEye purchase, India’s possible reassessment of its AEW&C assets (currently Netra and Israeli Phalcon systems), and Pakistan’s pivot to Chinese systems all point to a future where battles will be won in command centers as much as in cockpits.
Whether or not Rafales were shot down, one truth stands out: the era of the lone fighter ace is over. Today’s warriors are not just pilots—they are nodes in a vast, fast-moving web of sensors, relays, and command algorithms. The Rafale might still be among the best fighters in the world, but its survival now depends on the company it keeps in the sky.
In the aftermath of May’s air war, it is the airborne eyes—the AEW&C systems—that have emerged as the most prized possession in any air force’s arsenal. Whether it’s Pakistan’s Erieye, India’s Phalcon, or France’s soon-to-be GlobalEye, the contest for supremacy has decisively shifted to the clouds.
