New Delhi: During ‘Operation Sindoor’, Pakistan was continuously claiming that Rafale jets of the Indian Air Force had been targeted and shot down. But now an official document of the Indian Air Force has debunked these claims. According to the document, all the 36 Rafale fighter jets India has are fully operational and flying regularly.
IAF issues new RFP for Rafale fleet
According to records dated June 15, 2026, the Engineering Directorate of Air Headquarters has issued a Request for Proposal for the Bridge Support Package to French company Saffron Aircraft Engines.
It is clearly written in this document that all the 36 Rafale aircraft purchased under the agreement between India and France in 2016 are still in service. Also, even after September 2026, technical and maintenance support will be required for the smooth operation of the fleet.
Revealed through tender, flight plan of entire fleet ready
The IAF has also prepared the flight plan of each Rafale jet for the next five months. According to the document, each aircraft will fly an average of 150 hours a year. This means that the entire fleet is expected to fly approximately 2250 hours during the bridge period of five months. This information directly refutes claims that many Rafales were destroyed in recent operations.
36 #Rafale‘s Intact : IAF Tender Debunks #Pakistan‘s Rafale Claims: IAF’s latest sustainment tender seeks bridge support for the full fleet of 36 Rafale aircraft, the same number originally contracted by India. pic.twitter.com/p8Rlf5l12R
— IDU (@defencealerts) June 23, 2026
What was included in the 2016 agreement
The deal signed between India and France in 2016 included 36 Rafale aircraft along with equipment, spare parts and maintenance support for five years. The purpose of the bridge support package that has been brought now is to ensure uninterrupted operational and technical support even after 18 September 2026. Defense experts say that such support agreements for advanced fighter jets are a completely normal process.
Pakistan’s narrative fails again
During Operation Sindoor, Pakistan and its associated social media accounts had made many claims regarding Rafale. But it is clear from the latest document of IAF that India’s entire Rafale fleet is safe and active. After this revelation, questions have again been raised on the credibility of Pakistan’s narrative.
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