Pakistan’s repeated assertions that India lost several Rafale fighter jets during Operation Sindoor have been challenged once again by an official Indian Air Force (IAF) document. A Request for Proposal (RFP) issued by Air Headquarters in June seeks bridge support for the entire fleet of 36 Rafale aircraft currently operated by the IAF.
The document, accessed by India Today, invites bids for a five-month package covering maintenance, logistics and technical assistance for all 36 Rafale jets. This matches the total number of aircraft India purchased from France under the government-to-government agreement signed in 2016.
The proposed support arrangement is designed to keep the fleet operational beyond September 2026 until a long-term maintenance contract is finalised. During the five-month period, the IAF expects the aircraft to log around 2,250 flying hours.
The RFP has drawn attention because it reflects support requirements for all 36 Rafale jets, contradicting Pakistan’s claims that several aircraft were destroyed during Operation Sindoor, India’s military response to the Pahalgam terror attack. If any jets had been lost, the fleet size mentioned in the support proposal would likely have been reduced.
Pakistan had repeatedly alleged through official statements and social media campaigns that its forces had shot down multiple Indian Rafale fighters during the operation. India consistently rejected those claims, describing them as misinformation intended to undermine the success of the IAF’s mission.
The latest document adds to previous indications that questioned Pakistan’s narrative. Aircraft carrying tail numbers that Pakistani social media accounts had earlier claimed were destroyed were later seen participating in operational flights, further weakening those assertions.
The Rafale fleet was a key component of Operation Sindoor, conducting precision strikes against targets inside Pakistan. Indian defence officials have maintained that the aircraft performed effectively during the mission and have denied any combat losses.
The June 2026 tender is therefore being viewed as another official record supporting India’s position that all 36 Rafale fighters remain in service.
At the same time, India is advancing plans to acquire 114 additional Rafale jets from French manufacturer Dassault Aviation under the Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) programme. The proposed deal was discussed during recent talks between Narendra Modi and Emmanuel Macron.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, discussions on the programme have progressed, with Prime Minister Modi highlighting the importance of the Make in India initiative and advocating future defence cooperation based on co-development, co-design and co-production.
Under the proposed MRFA programme, 18 Rafale aircraft are expected to be delivered directly from France, while the remaining jets would be manufactured in India with approximately 50 per cent indigenous content.
