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

In May 2025’s aerial clashes between India and Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, the Pakistan Air Force publicly boasted that it had shot down multiple Indian fighter jets, including a Rafale with tail number BS-022. On January 26, 2026, Pakistan’s claim was publicly shot down by India in the same manner the IAF had shot down Pakistan’s jets during the aerial engagement in May last year, when BS-022 flew in the Republic Day flypast. These assertions circulated widely in Pakistani media and on social platforms, but they were never backed by verified evidence such as wreckage, radar logs or official confirmation. Nearly eight months later, during the 2026 Republic Day flypast, Rafale jets took to the skies in precise formations, confirming the aircraft’s

operational status and exposing the earlier claims as baseless. The very Rafale once reportedly “downed” by Pakistan proudly participated in the parade, demonstrating India’s aerial capabilities and turning past claims into a striking example of misinformation.

PAF claimed to have shot down BS-022 on 7th May and Today it was flying in Republic Day Parade.Paijaan 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/5pHL8seAWu

— Frontalforce 🇮🇳 (@FrontalForce) January 26, 2026

Also Read: Ever Wondered What IAF Pilots See During the Republic Day Flypast? Watch ThisAccording to a report by Independent News Pakistan, “PAF shot down multiple Indian jets, including Rafales such as BS‑001, BS‑021, BS‑022, and BS‑027, during aerial engagements in early May 2025.” The jet Pakistan claimed to have sent to aviation heaven was very much in the airspace of glory above Kartavya Path, showing off IAF’s precision display.India’s Operation Sindoor, launched on 7 -10 May 2025 after a terror attack in Pahalgam, was Delhi’s swift aerial counterstrike targetting terror infrastructure and hostile assets within Pakistan and Pakistan‑occupied Kashmir. Indian defence chiefs have publicly stated that advanced air‑defence systems like the S‑400 Triumf shot down multiple Pakistani aircraft, including fighters and a large airborne surveillance plane, at extraordinary ranges, marking one of the most decisive air defence displays in recent memory.That operation’s prowess was even showcased at the 2026 Republic Day Parade, with the S‑400 air‑defence system taking pride of place in the Department of Military Affairs tableau, a reminder that shootdowns aren’t a matter of social‑media bragging rights, they’re about actual physics and radar data.

Rafale BS‑022 Defies PAF Claims

The Dassault Rafale is a French‑made multi‑role fighter jet used by the Indian Air Force. It’s a modern 4.5‑generation aircraft capable of air‑to‑air combat, ground strikes, and reconnaissance missions, equipped with advanced avionics, radar, and electronic warfare systems.

BS‑022 is one of the Indian Air Force’s Rafale fighters identified in open‑source military aviation records as active with the fleet.

Pakistan’s Air Force and some media outlets previously claimed that BS‑022 was among Rafales shot down in May 2025 during aerial clashes tied to Operation Sindoor and other engagements. Those claims included serials like BS‑001, BS‑021, BS‑022 and BS‑027 being destroyed.

Indian defence officials and Dassault Aviation strongly rejected those Pakistani claims, pointing out there was no confirmed wreckage, radar logs or credible evidence provided.