Dassault Aviation chairman and CEO Eric Trappier dismissed Pakistan’s claim of shooting down three Indian Rafale jets during Operation Sindoor, clarifying that India lost only one Rafale fighter aircraft due to a technical failure at high altitude, unrelated to any combat engagement. Trappier emphasized that the flight logs and the Spectra electronic warfare systems did not record any hostile encounters during the operation. He described the Pakistani claims as “inaccurate and unfounded” and highlighted Dassault’s transparency regarding any operational losses of its aircraft.
The context of Trappier’s remarks follows Pakistan Air Force’s assertion during the Indo-Pakistan clashes in May that it had shot down five Indian fighter jets, including three Rafales, using long-range missiles. India’s Defence Secretary RK Singh refuted these claims, assuring that no multiple Rafale losses occurred. Meanwhile, India acknowledged losing some aircraft during the operation due to political constraints limiting strikes on Pakistani military installations, which defense officials explained as a reason for limited targeting.
The controversy sparked a broader disinformation campaign against Dassault’s Rafale jets, reportedly led by defence attaches from Chinese embassies aiming to discourage countries from purchasing the French fighter jets in favor of Chinese alternatives. France’s defence ministry condemned this campaign, stating it sought to undermine not only the aircraft’s credibility but also France’s national image and strategic autonomy. To date, Dassault has sold 533 Rafale jets worldwide, including exports to countries such as India, Egypt, Qatar, and the UAE.
