A senior French intelligence official has confirmed to CNN that a Rafale fighter jet operated by the Indian Air Force was downed by Pakistan, marking what could be the first-ever combat loss of the advanced French-made aircraft.

The development follows Pakistan’s earlier claim of shooting down five Indian fighter jets, including three Rafales, in response to what it described as unprovoked Indian aggression. Indian authorities have yet to issue an official statement on the reported losses.

The French official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said authorities in Paris are currently investigating the possibility that more than one Rafale may have been lost during overnight hostilities. “We are examining the extent of the damage and verifying the claims through intelligence and satellite data,” the official told CNN.

Images circulating online and reportedly taken near a crash site in Indian-administered Kashmir appear to show debris marked with the label of a French manufacturer. However, defence experts caution that the images alone are insufficient to conclusively identify the aircraft as a Rafale.

Dassault Aviation, the maker of the Rafale fighter jet, has not responded to CNN’s repeated requests for comment.

If verified, the loss of a Rafale would represent a significant development in the escalating conflict, as the jet is one of the most advanced in India’s arsenal. The Indian Air Force had inducted Rafale aircraft into its fleet as a strategic deterrent, particularly for high-stakes confrontations along its borders.

French officials have not ruled out the possibility of a formal inquiry into the operational circumstances that led to the jet’s downing, especially given the sensitive nature of arms exports and end-use monitoring agreements.