Dassault CEO rejects Pakistan's Rafale claims, cites technical fault for one jet loss

Eric Trappier, Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation, the manufacturer of Rafale fighter jets, has unequivocally dismissed Pakistan's claims of shooting down multiple Indian Air Force Rafale aircraft during "Operation Sindoor" in May. Trappier clarified that while India did lose one Rafale fighter, this was due to a technical failure at high altitude and not as a result of enemy contact. His statement comes amidst an ongoing "disinformation campaign" reportedly targeting the French-made jets.

During the Indo-Pakistan clash, which commenced with India's "Operation Sindoor" on May 7, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) had asserted, without providing evidence, that it shot down five Indian Air Force fighter jets, including three Rafales, using PL-15E long-range missiles from its J-10C aircraft. Trappier termed these claims "inaccurate and unfounded." He further stated that the Rafale's Spectra electronic warfare systems did not record any hostile engagements during the operation, and flight logs transmitted to Dassault showed no combat-related losses.

These remarks by the Dassault CEO also address a broader context of an alleged "disinformation campaign" against Rafale jets, which French intelligence reports suggest is being spearheaded by China to undermine sales and promote Chinese-made aircraft. India's Defence Secretary R.K. Singh also echoed this, stating it was "absolutely not correct" that multiple Rafales were shot down and highlighting that Pakistan suffered significant losses in the conflict. While India's Defence Attaché to Indonesia, Navy Captain Shiv Kumar, had previously acknowledged "some" losses due to initial operational restrictions, Dassault maintains that the single Rafale loss was purely technical. Dassault Aviation has sold 533 Rafale jets globally, with 323 exported to various countries, including Egypt, India, Qatar, Greece, Croatia, the UAE, Serbia, and Indonesia.