BS‑022 Alive and Flying: Pakistan’s ‘We Shot Rafale’ Story Exposed in R-Day Parade

On January 26, 2026, India celebrated its 77th Republic Day with a grand parade in New Delhi, culminating in a spectacular aerial fly-past by the Indian Air Force (IAF). The event was not only a display of military might and national pride but also became a focal point in countering claims made by Pakistan regarding the alleged downing of Indian Rafale fighter jets. At the center of this unfolding narrative was the Rafale aircraft bearing the tail number BS-022.

In mid-2025, during what has been referred to in Indian military communications as Operation Sindoor, tensions between India and Pakistan escalated following a terror attack in Pahalgam. India responded with precision strikes targeting militant infrastructure and associated launchpads for terrorist activities. In the aftermath of these operations, Pakistan Air Force (PAF) officials and Pakistani media circulated claims that they had successfully shot down several Indian aircraft, including Rafale jets. Among the jets Pakistan identified by serial numbers was BS-022, which they asserted had been destroyed in these aerial engagements.

Pakistan’s assertions were amplified through state media and diaspora outlets, with accompanying claims about wreckage and pilot communications. Some reports even listed multiple Indian fighter jets — including Rafales — as casualties of Pakistan’s air defense and combat engagements. Yet, these claims were met with skepticism and rebuttals from Indian authorities as well as international defense analysts, who highlighted the lack of independently verifiable evidence, such as confirmed imagery of wreckage, identified pilots in custody, or corroborated radar data.

India has consistently denied that any of its Rafale fighter jets were shot down during Operation Sindoor. A spokesperson for the Indian Air Force reiterated that no Rafale suffered combat losses in the aerial actions of May 2025. French defense manufacturer Dassault Aviation also weighed in on the matter, with CEO Eric Trappier dismissing Pakistan’s claim as “factually incorrect.” He stated publicly that Dassault had received no official communication suggesting any IAF Rafales were destroyed during the operation.

Against this backdrop of conflicting narratives, the presence and performance of Rafale BS-022 at the Republic Day Parade took on fresh significance. During the aerial fly-past over Kartavya Path, videos released by the IAF clearly showed the Rafale fighter — including BS-022 — soaring in formation alongside other frontline aircraft such as the Su-30 MKI, MiG-29, and Jaguar jets. The fly-past included cohesive formations, including the ‘Sindoor formation’ dedicated to the Air Force’s role in recent operations, symbolizing both operational readiness and unit cohesion.

The IAF also released additional high-definition footage around the same time, highlighting Rafale fighters in action with advanced weapons systems, such as the Meteor beyond-visual-range missiles. These releases were interpreted as part of a broader effort to reinforce India’s aerial capabilities and to answer skepticism about its fleet’s effectiveness and deployment capacity.

For many experts and observers, the Republic Day display served multiple purposes:

• Refuting misinformation: The visibility of BS-022 in flight directly contradicts the claims made by Pakistan that it was destroyed, offering a powerful, visual rebuttal.

• Demonstrating capability: The formation flights, showcasing various aircraft types and weapons integrations, underscore the modernization and readiness of India’s air combat fleet.

• Strategic signaling: In an era where information battles are fought alongside kinetic ones, such fly-pasts also serve as a calibrated message to adversaries — that India’s defenses remain robust, integrated, and technologically advanced.

It is important to note that while Pakistan’s claims stirred considerable attention and passionate responses across social and traditional media, independent verification of actual shoot-downs remains absent. Fact-checking analyses have pointed out that many of the videos and images circulated as purported proof lacked clear context, and some may have been repurposed or taken from unrelated incidents.

As geopolitical rivalry continues in South Asia, incidents such as the Republic Day Parade function not merely as ceremonial occasions but also as venues for shaping public perception and strategic narratives. With Rafale BS-022 flying high over New Delhi, India sent a clear message — asserting its defense strength and challenging assertions that it has not publicly substantiated.