India’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Anil Chauhan, recently acknowledged that the Indian Air Force (IAF) lost fighter jets during the brief but intense Operation Sindoor against Pakistan in May 2025. This marks the first official admission of such losses by India’s military leadership.

Official Acknowledgment of Losses

In an interview with Bloomberg TV at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, General Chauhan confirmed that IAF jets were downed in the opening hours of the conflict. However, he did not specify the number of aircraft lost or confirm whether any were Rafales. He emphasized that the focus should be on understanding the reasons behind the losses rather than the numbers themselves. General Chauhan stated,

“What is important is not the jet being downed, but why they were being downed, what mistakes were made — those are important.”

He further added that the military swiftly identified and rectified the tactical errors, enabling the IAF to resume operations with long-range precision strikes within two days.

Tactical Adjustments and Strategic Impact

Following the initial setbacks, the IAF adapted its tactics, conducting successful precision strikes deep into Pakistani territory. These retaliatory operations were carefully planned to avoid crossing nuclear escalation thresholds. General Chauhan highlighted that the revised strategy allowed Indian forces to cause substantial damage to airbases deep within Pakistan before a ceasefire was implemented three days later.

Rafale Jets in Operation Sindoor

During Operation Sindoor, the IAF deployed Rafale jets armed with SCALP missiles and AASM Hammer glide bombs to strike multiple targets in Pakistan. Pakistan’s military claimed to have shot down several Indian aircraft, including Rafales. However, General Chauhan dismissed Pakistan’s claim of downing six Indian jets, including four Rafales, as “absolutely incorrect.”

While the exact number and type of aircraft lost remain undisclosed, General Chauhan’s acknowledgment underscores the challenges faced during the operation and the subsequent tactical adjustments made by the IAF.

Political Reactions

The admission of jet losses has sparked political debate within India. The Congress party criticized the central government for allegedly concealing the loss of fighter jets during Operation Sindoor, citing General Chauhan’s remarks as confirmation of the aircraft casualties. The controversy intensified as Telangana’s minister urged the Centre to stop denying the reported losses, suggesting that the CDS’s statements provided confirmation of the aircraft casualties.

For a detailed overview of General Anil Chauhan’s statements regarding the fighter jet losses during Operation Sindoor, you can watch the following video: