During the conflict, how many fighter jets did India lose?
Dad: I don’t know the exact number. Let the government release the official figures.
When I spoke to several young officers on our base, the responses varied. However, one detail was consistent—everyone mentioned the loss of one Rafale in Punjab. Beyond that, no one had a clear answer. Some said we lost 4–5 jets in total, but they all emphasized that we inflicted significant damage on Pakistani aircraft.
So, What Do I Understand?
Even officers currently serving in peace postings don’t seem to have the full picture regarding our aircraft losses. If they don’t know, how can an ordinary citizen claim to know the exact count?
My Take
It’s reasonable to assume we did lose a few platforms. When Air Marshal A.K. Bharti, Director General of Air Operations (DGAO), was asked this very question, he responded:
We are in a combat scenario, and losses are part of it.
As for the details, I would not like to comment at this time, as we are still in combat. Disclosing information could benefit the adversary.
Isn’t that a subtle confirmation of losses? The only remaining question is how many? With time, the exact details will surface, so why speculate or throw around guesses?
What Truly Matters
As Air Marshal Bharti also noted, “We didn’t lose any brave pilot’s life.” That’s the most important thing.
We can replace machines—we can buy more jets. But lives are irreplaceable.
0 Comments