Pakistan Air Force downed 8 Indian jets, not 6 in May conflict

Pakistan’s Air Force shot down eight Indian fighter jets during the 87-hour war, not six as previously reported, according to retired Lt. Gen. Khalid Ahmed Kidwai, an adviser to the country’s National Command Authority.

Kamran Khan, citing Kidwai’s remarks, said the downed aircraft included four Rafales, one Mirage 2000, one MiG-29, one Sukhoi-30, and one Heron UAV. He said Pakistan lost no aircraft in the exchange, a claim he added was verified by original equipment manufacturers of the jets.

Khan said India’s Air Force was forced to remain grounded for 48 hours, calling it one of New Delhi’s “worst humiliations” under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He added that the Pakistani strikes shattered what he described as India’s “myth of air superiority” built around the French-made Rafale fighters.

According to reports, India had nearly 180 aircraft positioned for attacks. But Khan said Pakistan’s tactical skill and technical mastery denied Indian pilots the chance to strike, with Rafale jets instead being downed by JF-17s and J-10s.

He said the episode was not just about machinery but also the training and precision of Pakistani pilots, noting their “first-shot capability” proved decisive.

Khan said even U.S. President Donald Trump had acknowledged that India lost more than six warplanes in the conflict. He argued Pakistan’s combat strategy could be studied globally as part of future air force training curricula.