Rafale manufacturer’s shares fall after Pakistani Air Force shoots down Indian jets PHOTO

Shares of Dassault Aviation, the French manufacturer behind the Rafale fighter jet, plummeted 6% on May 7 following reports that the Pakistani Air Force shot down several Indian aircraft, including three Rafales, amid escalating military tensions along the Line of Control (LoC).

The incident has triggered investor concerns over the jet’s performance and regional stability, Caliber.Az reports, referring to Pakistani media.

Pakistan's military stated that Indian aircraft were intercepted before they could breach Pakistani airspace. Senior Pakistani defence and security officials confirmed that a total of six Indian aerial assets were destroyed during the confrontation: three Rafale jets, one MiG-29, one Su-30 fighter, and one Heron reconnaissance drone.

“All enemy aircraft were attempting to launch stand-off munitions from within Indian airspace targeting locations inside Pakistan,” one military official said.

A spokesperson for the Pakistani armed forces confirmed, “None of our aircraft were damaged. All units returned safely to base,” underscoring the Air Force’s operational readiness and commitment to defending national airspace.

According to Pakistani officials, the Rafale and Su-30 jets were shot down near Ahmedpur East in the Bahawalpur region, on the Indian side of the border. Another Rafale was reportedly downed southwest of Awantipora in Pulwama district, about 17 nautical miles from the LoC.

The Heron drone was intercepted and neutralised in a separate mission, sources added.

By Tamilla Hasanova