India’s military has acknowledged for the first time that an unspecified number of its fighter jets were shot down during strikes on Pakistani-controlled territory amid intense fighting between the neighbors in early May.

After joining the French Air Force, Rafale carried out many successful air strikes in Afghanistan, Syria and Libya.

In a rare admission, senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy confirmed that Pakistan shot down five Indian aircraft, including Rafale jets, during the recent conflict in early May. His remarks come at a time when the Indian government has largely avoided commenting on the scale of its losses,