Dassault says CEO made no comments on Rafale's ‘operational or technical' issues during Op Sindoor
The denial follows media reports that 'quoted' Trappier on details about Indian Air Force (IAF) operations and aircraft loss during armed hostilities along the LoC post the terrorist attack in Pahalgam.
New Delhi: Dassault Aviation has issued a formal clarification denying reports that its CEO, Eric Trappier, made any 'operational or technical comments' regarding Rafale fighter jets in Operation Sindoor.
A report by the French aviation website Avion De Chasse had earlier 'cited' Trappier during a 15 June press conference, where he allegedly dismissed Islamabad's claims.
Trappier was quoted as stating that no Rafale aircraft was shot down in combat, although India did lose one jet due to a technical malfunction.
According to the report, Trappier confirmed there was no enemy engagement involved. The incident occurred at an altitude of over 12,000 metres during an extended training mission, with no signs of hostile radar contact or enemy involvement.
Addressing Pakistan's claims that three Indian Rafale jets were shot down during Operation Sindoor, Trappier dismissed the allegations as 'inaccurate and unfounded.'
During the briefing, Trappier also rejected suggestions of any operational failure. He pointed to data from the Rafale's Spectra electronic warfare system, which showed no hostile engagements during the relevant timeframe. Additionally, he noted that friend-or-foe identification systems and flight logs provided to Dassault showed no Rafale losses in actual combat.
The Indian government has also pushed back against disinformation. The Press Information Bureau (PIB) conducted a fact-check 7 July, debunking viral social media claims suggesting the death of four IAF pilots, including three Rafale operators during Operation Sindoor.
🚨"India Admits Rafale Pilot Loss?" – Here's the truth behind this claim:
Several Pakistani propaganda handles are spreading false claims that India has officially confirmed the loss of 4 IAF pilots, including those flying 3 Rafale jets.#PIBFactCheck
❌ FAKE ALERT!
✅ The… pic.twitter.com/4v8FSMOJAX
— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) July 7, 2025
Last month, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan acknowledged during the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore that the Indian Air Force (IAF) had incurred some losses during Operation Sindoor. However, he categorically rejected Pakistan's claims of having shot down six Indian aircraft, including Rafales, calling them 'absolutely incorrect.'
Earlier this month, French intelligence sources cited by Associated Press revealed that China orchestrated a covert campaign aimed at damaging the global reputation of the Rafale jet following its combat deployment during Op Sindoor. According to the report, Chinese embassies reportedly directed defence attachés to discredit the Rafale's performance to dissuade buyers like Indonesia from purchasing more units and to steer potential clients toward Chinese-made alternatives.
(Edited by Viny Mishra)
Also read: Pakistan's claim on 3 Rafales shot down 'inaccurate', better than F-35 & Chinese fighters—Dassault CEO
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Deccan Herald
a few seconds ago
- Deccan Herald
'Absolutely not': Shashi Tharoor rejects Trump's dead economy remark
Trump called India a "dead economy", sparking a political firestorm in India, hours after he announced a 25 per cent tariff on import of Indian goods along with an unspecified "penalty" for buying "vast majority" of Russian military equipment and crude oil.
The Print
a few seconds ago
- The Print
BJP MPs go full throttle against Trump even as govt hails enduring India-US ties amid tariff tension
BJP Lok Sabha MP Nishikant Dubey took a dig at Trump's recent declaration on developing an oil reserve in Pakistan. 'What can a beggar country give to India?' he asked on social media. 'This is America's own revelation. Pakistan has only 25 percent of oil and gas reserves for its own expenses. According to America, the Turkmenistan, Iran, and Qatar oil and gas pipeline is the only final option to meet Pakistan's needs. What will a beggar country give to India? India does not care about anyone more than its farmers, small traders, and the country's security. This is Modi's strong India,' he posted. New Delhi: While the Indian government has made a measured response to the 25 percent trade tariff imposed by Donald Trump, many in the BJP have taken up the role of hitting out at Trump's policies, with some BJP MPs suggesting the government diversify its trade to other countries, namely Latin America, Africa and the Global South, and, like Vajpayee, who faced US sanctions, choose a new path. In another post, Nishikant Dubey suggested, 'Govt should take up the challenge like Vajpayee. Our government conducted a nuclear test in 1998, and the United States imposed trade and financial sanctions; India's economy grew at a rate of 8 percent until 2008. The Modi government has both an opportunity and a challenge; we will succeed.' In another post, Dubey drew a parallel between PM Modi and Singapore founding father and former prime minister Lee khan Yew. While replying to Rahul Gandhi, he said, 'Malaysia declared Singapore a dead economy and expelled it in 1965. Where is Singapore today, and where is Malaysia? @RahulGandhi-ji, Lee Kuan Yew and Modi-ji are made of the same metal, the country will laugh at your Pakistan-supported, America-supported, China-supported talk.' After Trump's 'dead economy' jibe, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, who briefed Parliament on 31 July had two messages in his statement—one for the domestic constituency and another for the US. Responding to the American President's jibe, Goyal said, 'In just over a decade, India has rapidly transformed from being one of the fragile five to the fastest growing major economy in the world. Today international institutions and economists see India as a bright spot in the global economy. India is contributing almost 16 percent to global growth.' Goyal's message to voters at home was that India would not compromise on national interest. Not wanting to upset sensitivities of farmers, Piyush Goyal's statement focused on protecting the agriculture sector. But unlike the government's measured stance, many BJP MPs suggested that India identify a new country for its exports. Rajya Sabha MP Dinesh Sharma said, 'India's economy is the fastest-growing economy in the world. The issue of tariffs being imposed by the US is still under discussion… (The Opposition) has started declaring results even before that. On the other hand, India has made trade agreements with Britain, European countries, Russia, and many other major countries. India is a country that does not rely solely on exports. We are moving towards self-reliance. If there is a shortfall in exports from one place, we move towards fulfilling it from other places.' BJP Lok Sabha MP from Gujarat Hemant Joshi told ThePrint, 'Trump has a habit of making unilateral statements and later retracting. Earlier he made several statements and later made a U-turn. So let's wait for our conclusion of the trade deal with America, but knowing our prime minister, he will not bow under any pressure.' BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal, whose organisation Confederation of All India Traders works to protect interests of small traders, said, 'This is an unfortunate statement by the American President. The Indian economy is booming and such statements are not required at the ongoing trade talks. But the government will protect the interests of exporters once the talks are concluded.' But Trump's outburst has given the Opposition another opportunity to corner the Modi government. Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said, 'Everybody knows this except the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister. Everybody knows that the Indian economy is a dead economy. I am glad that President Trump has stated a fact… The entire world knows that the Indian economy is a dead economy. BJP has finished the economy to help Adani.' 'The foreign minister gives a speech and says that we have a genius foreign policy. On one hand, America is abusing you; on the other hand, China is behind you. When you send your delegation to the world, no country condemns Pakistan. How are they running this country? There is total confusion… He (PM Modi in his speech) did not take the name of Trump, China… The military chief of Pakistan who carried out this Pahalgam attack… President Trump is having lunch with him, and they are saying we had a huge success,' he added. BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya and MP Anurag Thakur attacked Rahul Gandhi for saying India was a dead economy. But sources say, the BJP's real challenge is not Rahul Gandhi, but the emerging geo political situation which can disrupt the Modi government's leverage on foreign policy and domestic politics. A senior BJP leader said, 'We can counter Rahul Gandhi any time, but not Trump. Knowing the importance of the India-US relationship, a poor trade deal will diminish our leverage on the diplomatic front and in our domestic constituency. The PM has invested so much in the relationship with the US president, but Trump's outreach to Pakistan and the changing geo political situation can create a major diplomatic challenge for India. Our challenge is to safeguard our export interests and protect the warmth of the India-US relationship.' (Edited by Viny Mishra) Also read: Trump tariff forces India to shed illusion. Stop conflating status with power
Indian Express
a few seconds ago
- Indian Express
In rare praise for mainstream leaders, Mirwaiz lauds J&K MPs over Op Sindoor debate
The special debate on Operation Sindoor in Parliament found a mention in the sermon of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq here on Friday, with the Hurriyat Conference chief offering rare praise for the speeches made by three MPs from Jammu and Kashmir during it. National Conference parliamentarians Mian Altaf Ahmad (Anantnag-Rajouri seat) and Aga Ruhullah Mehdi (Srinagar) were among those who spoke during the debate, as did Independent MP Engineer Sheikh Rashid (Baramulla). Jailed in Tihar on UAPA charges, Rashid got permission from court to attend the House proceedings. Mirwaiz Farooq commended the three MPs, saying they spoke 'with passion and pain about the disempowerment and dispossession' of the people of J&K. 'A few days back in Parliament, there was a debate on the India–Pakistan war after the heinous Pahalgam incident, and different views by different political parties of India with regard to the war, its purpose, success or failure were put forward,' Mirwaiz, who is also the Valley's chief cleric, said, while giving his sermon at Srinagar's historic Jamia Masjid. 'Very few, and mostly in the Opposition, talked of the human aspect of the war and its costs, and its correlation to J&K,' he said. Adding that this 'reflects the mindset and mood of the times', Mirwaiz went on to speak about the speeches by MPs from J&K. 'Mian Altaf Sahib, Engineer Rashid Sahib, and Aga Ruhullah Sahib were the only ones to highlight the deep concerns and plight of the people at the epicentre of the basic problem and the current debate,' Mirwaiz said. 'They spoke with passion and pain about the disempowerment and dispossession of the people of J&K, and expressed the sentiments of the people of J&K that we have all along been talking about. It is good to see that, on these matters, all are on the same page.' Separatist leaders are mostly critical of mainstream politics and politicians, and boycott elections held for Parliament and the Assembly in Kashmir. With the public representatives seen as, in a way, fulfilling Delhi's agenda, separatist leaders also avoid any interaction with them. Mirwaiz's praise for the three MPs was therefore rare, especially as he heads the separatist conglomerate Hurriyat Conference. In his sermon, the Hurriyat chief reiterated that engagement between the stakeholders in India and Pakistan was the only viable option for resolution of all issues. 'I have always believed that neither war, nor violence, nor use of force can solve problems, or lead to peace and prosperity, which the billions of people in the Indian subcontinent seek, and the poor in this region deserve. Engagement at all levels is a far cheaper and evolved alternative,' he said. Mirwaiz added that he could only hope that what the Kashmiri parliamentarians said was heard by those in power in New Delhi, and that if they really wanted to lessen 'dil ki doori (the gap between the hearts of the people of Kashmir and other parts of India)', they must pay heed to it. Addressing a rally in Srinagar in September 2024, before the J&K elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said he, his government and party were working to remove both 'dil ki doori' and 'Dilli se doori (the distance between Delhi and Kashmir)'.
