India Planning To Ground Rafale Fighter Jets? PIB Fact-Checks Misleading Claim

Last Updated:July 26, 2025, 22:10 IST

The Press Information Bureau debunked claims by Pakistani YouTube channelthat India plans to ground Rafale jets. The IAF Rafale jets are fully operational.

Contrary to the misleading narrative, the Indian Air Force's Rafale jets remain fully operational. (X)

A Pakistani propaganda YouTube channel ‘Global Times Pakistan’ falsely claimed that India is planning to ground rafale jets following May’s four-day conflict during Operation Sindoor, as per a fact-check issued by the Press Information Bureau (PIB).

The PIB Fact Check unit debunked the claim as fake and said that Indian Air Force’s Rafale fighter jets are fully operational.

The PIB highlighted that a Pakistani propaganda YouTube channel in its banner over a video has claimed that India plans to ground rafale jets.

“Is India planning to ground Rafale fighter jets? A Pakistani propaganda YouTube channel ‘Global Times Pakistan’ in its banner over a video has claimed that India plans to ground rafale jets. The claim made is Fake. Indian Air Force Rafale are operational," the PIB said in an X post.

The PIB further cautioned the public to don’t fall for misinformation. “Always verify news from official sources before sharing it," it added.

India is actively expanding its Rafale programme, not scaling it down. According to a recent update from PIB, the Indian government has finalised the procurement of 26 Rafale-M (Marine) aircraft for the Indian Navy in a deal estimated to be worth Rs 63,000 crore, in addition to the 36 Rafale jets already in service with the Indian Air Force.

Four days of India-Pakistan clashes in May were the most serious confrontation in years between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, and included air combat that involved dozens of aircraft from both sides.

Following India’s launch of retaliatory strikes in response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Pakistan attempted to play down the offensive by alleging it had shot down three Indian Rafale jets, along with one Su-30 and one MiG-29.

According to reports, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif claimed that five Indian aircraft were brought down and that several Indian soldiers had been taken prisoner, though he did not specify a number.

However, the false propaganda of the neighbouring country was debunked by New Delhi.

Shobhit Gupta

Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben...Read More

Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben...

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