Exclusive: U.S. Officials Say Pakistani Chinese-Made Jet Shot Down Two Indian Fighter Aircraft

 
ISLAMABAD/WASHINGTON, May 8 (Reuters) – A Chinese-made J-10 fighter jet operated by Pakistan downed at least two Indian military aircraft during aerial clashes on Wednesday, according to two U.S. officials speaking to Reuters. The incident marks a significant moment for China’s defense industry, as its advanced combat aircraft scored a major operational success against Western-made jets.

One of the officials confirmed that the J-10s fired air-to-air missiles, hitting at least two Indian jets. Another official said one of the downed aircraft was a French-made Rafale, a key component of India’s modernized air fleet. The U.S. officials emphasized that Pakistani F-16s, supplied by Lockheed Martin, were not involved in the engagement.

India has not acknowledged the loss of any aircraft, instead claiming successful airstrikes on what it described as “terrorist infrastructure” within Pakistan. An Indian Air Force spokesperson declined to comment when asked about the reported losses.

Pakistan, however, claims a much larger success. Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif told Reuters that Pakistani forces shot down five Indian planes in total — including three Rafales — using Chinese-supplied J-10 fighters. This is the first confirmation from Western sources that J-10s were used in the shootdowns.
Implications for Global Military Balance

The use of Chinese-made fighter jets against advanced Western platforms is being closely monitored by military analysts in Washington, Beijing, and European capitals. Experts say the real-world performance of next-generation weapons — like China’s PL-15 air-to-air missile and Europe’s Meteor missile — could offer valuable insight into future high-stakes confrontations, including potential flashpoints in the Indo-Pacific or over Taiwan.

“This kind of engagement will be pored over by air warfare experts globally,” said Douglas Barrie, a senior fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. “They’ll be looking for every detail on tactics, weapons systems, and effectiveness.”

Despite the growing interest, analysts caution that it’s too soon to draw definitive conclusions. Many critical details — such as which missiles were used, whether Meteor missiles were deployed, and the exact circumstances of the shootdowns — remain unknown.
Rising Tensions in a Volatile Region

India and Pakistan, both nuclear-armed, have fought three major wars and multiple smaller skirmishes, with the disputed region of Kashmir often at the center. Clashes have escalated over the past two days, with explosions reported Thursday night in Jammu, a city in Indian-administered Kashmir.

Pakistani officials claim they intercepted 25 Indian drones overnight. Meanwhile, Indian military sources say they repelled drone and missile attacks targeting military installations, believed to be launched from Pakistan.

Calls for de-escalation have poured in from global powers including the U.S., Russia, and China, all wary of conflict spiraling in one of the world’s most volatile regions.

In France, defense contractors Dassault Aviation — maker of the Rafale — and the MBDA-led consortium behind the Meteor missile did not respond to requests for comment due to a national holiday.

As tensions mount, the air battle between Chinese and Western military technology is already becoming a new front in the broader geopolitical rivalry shaping the 21st century.