The barbaric terror attack in Kashmir’s Pahalgam on April 22, claimed by “The Resistance Front,” an offshoot of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), has triggered a massive uproar across India. With 26 civilians dead, the pressure on the Indian government to make a robust military response has grown, and air strikes seem a serious option on the table.
If India chooses to go in for military action, the Indian Air Force (IAF) may employ an unusual and potent combination of three of the air force’s French-origin fighters — the SEPECAT Jaguar, Mirage 2000, and Rafale — a combination never hitherto employed together in an Indian attack mission.
Following the attack, India quickly took diplomatic actions, such as suspending the Indus Water Treaty, removing ambassadors, canceling visas, and shutting down border crossings. Defense Minister Rajnath Singh promised a “strong response,” fueling speculation of possible targeted military operations against terror bases across the border.
Past Indian Air Strikes Against Pakistan
India has a recent history of using force in response to terrorist attacks emanating from Pakistani soil.
2016 Surgical Strikes:
After the deadly Uri attack in September 2016, where 19 Indian soldiers were martyred, India carried out surgical strikes across the Line of Control (LoC). Special Forces entered Pakistani-occupied Kashmir and destroyed multiple militant launch pads. India called it a “preemptive action” to thwart infiltration attempts, while Pakistan denied any such operation took place.
2019 Balakot Air Strikes:
The most significant escalation came in February 2019 after the Pulwama suicide bombing killed 40 CRPF personnel. In a bold move, 12 Indian Mirage 2000 jets crossed into Pakistan and struck a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror camp in Balakot, deep inside Pakistani territory. Using Spice-2000 precision-guided bombs, the Mirage fleet reportedly inflicted heavy casualties, although Pakistan rejected the extent of the damage.
This was the first air strike beyond the LoC since the 1971 war, significantly altering India’s counter-terrorism doctrine by setting a precedent for using conventional air power in response to terrorism.
These past operations demonstrate India’s willingness to use air strikes as a tool for strategic messaging and deterrence — a strategy that could now be reactivated following the Pahalgam carnage.
The Very Rare French-Origin Trio the IAF Could Deploy
In a possible new operation, India may field an unprecedented mix of the following three French-designed fighters:
1. SEPECAT Jaguar: The Deep Striker
Developed jointly by Britain and France, the Jaguar is a low-flying, deep-penetration strike aircraft.
2. Mirage 2000: The Combat Veteran
The Mirage 2000 has served India with distinction since the 1980s. First inducted to counter Pakistan’s F-16s, the Mirage’s role in Indian operations has been pivotal.
During the Kargil War, Mirage 2000s dropped laser-guided bombs with pinpoint precision, causing major disruption to Pakistani supply lines and command structures. In fact, Indian Army messages to the Air Force lauded the Mirages for directly aiding victory at Tiger Hill.
In 2019, it was again the Mirage 2000s that led the Balakot air strikes. With their smaller radar signatures and compatibility with Spice 2000 bombs, they were ideal for a precision attack deep inside hostile territory.
The Indian AirNicknamed ‘Shamsher’ in the IAF, it’s India’s workhorse for nuclear and precision strike missions.
Though one of the oldest in the fleet, Jaguars have been upgraded with DARIN III avionics updates, equipping them with state-of-the-art navigation and targeting capabilities. The lo-lo-lo mission profile (low altitude in ingress, strike, and egress) of the Jaguar renders it radar-evasive, vital in contested zones such as Pakistan-administered regions.
The Jaguars demonstrated their capability in the 1999 Kargil War, employing unguided as well as laser-guided bombs to evict enemy positions in place.
In the 2019 Balakot airstrikes, Jaguars were employed as decoys to lure Pakistani F-16s away from the main targets — a cunning ploy that worked to befuddle enemy radar and command structures. Force has recently extended the service life of the Mirage 2000 fleet up to 2040, reflecting its continued value in India’s air strategy.
3. Rafale: The Game-Changer
The Rafale multirole fighter, inducted between 2019 and 2022, is the crown jewel of India’s air power. Capable of nuclear strikes, deep penetration missions, and air dominance tasks, Rafale represents a quantum leap in India’s aerial warfare capability.
Armed with Meteor beyond-visual-range (BVR) missiles, SCALP deep-strike cruise missiles, and MICA air-to-air missiles, Rafale can conduct operations without even crossing enemy borders.
The Rafales were swiftly deployed at bases near the Pakistan and China borders amid tensions, underlining their strategic importance. Their formidable capabilities have already forced strategic recalibrations in both Islamabad and Beijing.
Pakistan’s response — acquiring J-10Cs from China — signals how seriously they view the Rafale threat.
France’s Legacy of Multi-Generational Deployment
Interestingly, France itself used the Jaguar, Mirage 2000, and Rafale together during operations in Mali, demonstrating that mixed-generation forces can operate successfully with proper planning and technology integration.
The IAF, having learned and adapted from the Balakot experience, is now more prepared than ever to conduct coordinated strikes involving multiple aircraft generations.
Challenges Ahead for Pakistan’s Mostly Chinese Air Fleet
If a strike happens, Pakistan’s mostly Chinese-origin air fleet — comprising JF-17s, J-10Cs, and aging F-16s — would find it extremely difficult to counter India’s trio of Jaguars, Mirages, and Rafales.
While the J-10C is a capable aircraft, it still falls short of matching Rafale’s avionics, radar systems, weaponry, and combat range. The Jaguars and Mirages, meanwhile, offer proven low-altitude strike capabilities that are difficult for ground-based radar and SAM (surface-to-air missile) defenses to intercept.
Moreover, India’s air defense network — including S-400 missile systems — provides formidable cover for returning strike packages.
Will India Strike Again?
The political mood within India after the Pahalgam massacre is unmistakably one of anger and resolve. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already promised that the perpetrators will be tracked down and punished. With almost unanimous domestic political support for retaliatory action, a military strike — likely involving India’s “French Trinity” of fighter jets — cannot be ruled out.
Given India’s past responses to similar provocations, and the capabilities of the Jaguars, Mirages, and Rafales working in concert, any future air operation could deliver a swift and powerful message to Pakistan and its terror proxies.
The world watches closely, but one thing is certain: if India strikes, it will do so harder, faster, and smarter than ever before.
