One Rafale lost, but zero were shot down during Operation Sindoor: Dassault CEO rubbishes Pakistan's claim
kicked off on 7 May with India launching a high-intensity air campaign. Pakistan's Air Force wasted no time claiming it shot down five Indian jets, including three Rafales, using its J-10C fighters armed with PL-15E missiles. The catch? No evidence ever surfaced.
Eric Trappier, Chairman and CEO of
Dassault Aviation
, set the record straight. In his words, the loss was down to a 'technical failure at high altitude', not enemy missiles. He called Pakistan's claims 'inaccurate and unfounded' when speaking to Avion De Chasse. The Spectra electronic warfare suite, which should detect threats, never picked up hostile contact. Flight logs back him up.
France fights Chinese rumours
This single incident snowballed into something bigger.
France's Defence Ministry
has accused China's embassies of orchestrating a targeted smear campaign to undercut Rafale sales and push the J-10C as a cheaper option. French intelligence traced fake images, AI-generated clips and thousands of new social media accounts spreading tales of downed Rafales.
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Undo
'The Rafale was not randomly targeted,' said a Defence Ministry note. 'By attacking the aircraft, certain actors sought to undermine the credibility of France and its defence industrial and technological base.' For France, this isn't just about jets. It's about its standing as an arms exporter and a reliable partner.
What India has said
India's official line has been muddled at best. Defence Secretary RK Singh told CNBC TV-18, 'You have used the term Rafales in the plural, I can assure you that is absolutely not correct. Pakistan suffered losses many times over India in both human and material terms, and more than 100 terrorists.'
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Captain Shiv Kumar, India's defence attaché to Indonesia, conceded India lost jets on the first day but blamed government orders restricting strikes to terror camps. 'I may not agree that India lost so many aircraft. But I do agree that we did lose some aircraft, and that happened only because of the constraint given by the political leadership to not attack the military establishments and their air defences.'
What the French Air Force chief saw
Adding to the confusion, General Jerome Bellanger, the French Air Force Chief, told The Associated Press he saw evidence that India lost a Mirage 2000, a Sukhoi and a Rafale. If true, this marks the first Rafale lost in combat out of the 533 built so far — 323 sold abroad to Egypt, Qatar, UAE, Greece, Croatia, Serbia, Indonesia and India.
Yet Trappier stands by his statement: 'the loss of one aircraft' had nothing to do with Pakistan. The wreckage came down at over 12,000 metres, mid-training, far from any enemy radar.
The other side of the skies
Pakistan didn't escape unscathed. Air Marshal AK Bharti briefed reporters during the clashes that India shot down several Pakistani jets, blocking them from crossing into Indian airspace. 'We definitely shot down several planes, and they have suffered losses on their part,' he said. Unofficial reports suggest Pakistan lost three JF-17 Thunders, two Mirage III/V, an F-16, a C-130 Hercules and two Saab Erieye-2000 surveillance planes.
One of those AEW&CS aircraft going down is no small loss. They're the eyes and ears of modern air forces, watching the skies for fighters and missiles long before ground radars can see them.
China in the shadows
French officials argue China's motive is simple: if Rafale's reputation wobbles, its
J-10C fighter
looks more appealing. As the EurAsian Times pointed out, Rafale exports have long helped France build influence, especially in Asia where China is keen to expand its footprint.
Beijing hit back, saying, 'The relevant claims are pure groundless rumours and slander. China has consistently maintained a prudent and responsible approach to military exports.'
Despite the swirl of headlines, Dassault Aviation's share price has started to recover after a brief slump. The stock opened slightly higher at €297.40 on 8 July after Defence Secretary RK Singh shot down Pakistan's claims.
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