India’s Air Force under scrutiny after losses in ‘operation sindoor,’ Le Monde reports

Islamabad: India’s latest military operation in Pakistan, dubbed Operation Sindoor, has brought to light serious shortcomings within the Indian Air Force (IAF), according to a detailed report by the French daily Le Monde.

In a rare admission, Indian authorities have begun acknowledging the loss of multiple fighter jets during the overnight strike conducted between May 6 and 7.

Launched in retaliation for a deadly April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the operation aimed to project strength but has instead exposed vulnerabilities in India’s aerial capabilities.

The French publication, citing military analysts and open-source verification, suggests that at least one Rafale jet may have been among the aircraft downed — a development that would mark the first combat loss of the French-built jet. Pakistani officials claim five Indian jets were shot down, including three Rafales, using Chinese-manufactured J-10 fighter aircraft.

While Indian sources have not confirmed the exact number or types of aircraft lost, independent analysis supports the likelihood of significant losses. Analysts have described the operation as a “strategic underperformance,” raising red flags about the IAF’s reliance on outdated technology, insufficient pilot training, and logistical constraints — particularly as more than half of India’s fighter squadrons consist of aging Russian and French aircraft, including MiG-21s and Jaguars.

Despite early celebrations in New Delhi, the report notes that efforts were later made to downplay or suppress media coverage of the setbacks — allegedly under pressure from the Modi government. Reports of aircraft losses were reportedly scrubbed from local media platforms.

Le Monde’s correspondents Sophie Landrin and Elise Vincent noted that the episode has reignited concerns over India’s readiness to confront simultaneous challenges from both Pakistan and China, with troops stationed along the volatile Line of Control (LoC) and Line of Actual Control (LAC), respectively.

Strategic experts warn that continued escalation between the two nuclear-armed rivals could spiral into a broader crisis.