At least two Indian military aircraft were downed by Pakistan Air Force (PAF) using Chinese-made J-10 fighter jets, according to two U.S. officials, marking a significant development for Beijing’s aviation industry and countering Indian claims.
One U.S. official, speaking anonymously, expressed strong confidence that Pakistan deployed the J-10s to fire air-to-air missiles at Indian jets, successfully shooting down at least two. Another official confirmed that one of the downed aircraft was a French-made Rafale, recently inducted into the Indian Air Force (IAF). They also clarified that F-16s, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, were not involved in the operation.
An IAF spokesperson declined to comment on the reported losses. India has not officially acknowledged the downing of its aircraft, instead claiming that its strikes inside Pakistani territory were successful.
Pakistan’s military stated that its forces shot down five Indian fighter jets and 29 drones in retaliation for Indian airstrikes that Islamabad termed a “blatant act of war.” The strikes targeted six sites, including mosques and infrastructure projects, across both Punjab and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in the deaths of at least 31 civilians and injuries to 57 others.
The Pakistani response reportedly destroyed multiple IAF aircraft, a brigade headquarters, and several border outposts along the Line of Control (LoC). Defense Minister Khawaja Asif confirmed the use of J-10 jets to shoot down three Rafale fighters.
The clash is seen as a notable instance of a Chinese fourth-generation-plus (4.5-gen) fighter successfully engaging Western-made aircraft. Analysts in Washington are closely observing the incident to assess how Chinese aviation technology might perform in broader regional conflicts, including a potential Taiwan crisis.
Dassault Aviation and MBDA, the manufacturers of the Rafale and Meteor missiles respectively, were not available for comment due to a public holiday in France.
This marks the first confirmation from Western sources that Pakistan’s J-10s were operationally employed to neutralize advanced Indian jets. The Rafale and the J-10CE, the variant in use by Pakistan, are considered among the most advanced non-stealth fighters globally.
India and Pakistan, both nuclear-armed nations, have fought three major wars and numerous skirmishes. Tensions remain high as global powers urge both sides to exercise restraint to avoid further escalation in one of the world’s most volatile regions.
