Latest news with #JeromeBellanger
India.com
8 hours ago
- Politics
- India.com
French intel's MASSIVE revelation! China targeted Rafale reputation after..., French air force chief says…
राफेल लड़ाकू विमानों को लेकर अफवाह फैला रहा था ड्रैगन New Delhi: Following Operation Sindoor, China attempted to cast doubt on the effectiveness of France's flagship Rafale fighter jets, according to the French intelligence report. The defence attachés in Chinese embassies were asked to lead the charge to undermine the sale and performance of Rafale jets as part of an effort to get countries to stop buying the French military fighter, according to the Associated Press. For the French defence industry, sales of the Rafale fighter jet and other armaments bring most of the business to them, which even aided Paris in strengthening ties with Asian nations, where China is quite a dominant regional power. According to AP, an anonymous French military official released this information. This comes when France is also claiming to fight a disinformation campaign against their Rafale jet. These campaigns are further fuelled by Pakistan, and its ally China, as it claimed they downed five Indian Air Force aircrafts during the conflict between the two countries in May. What Pakistan say? Islamabad claims to have shot down five Indian aircraft, including three Rafales, four days after the conclusion of the strikes. While India has acknowledged military losses, it has not officially disclosed the exact number of aircraft lost during Operation Sindoor. According to France Air Force Chief Gen Jerome Bellanger, there was evidence of only three losses, out of which only one was a Rafale, the other two being a Russian Sukhoi and a Mirage-2000, which is another previous generation French jet. The official added that this was the first time a Rafale has been lost during combat, though there is no official information from Indian authorities. Claims made by French Intel According to French intelligence, Pakistan's claims would cause it to face questions about the jet's performance from potential customers, and would attract additional doubts from the eight countries that already purchased it. It was also revealed that Chinese officials have tried to drive away potential clients of the jet. Despite the claims, France is unable to link the disinformation campaign directly to Beijing, while Beijing says these allegations are 'slander.'
Hans India
10 hours ago
- Business
- Hans India
China Launches Global Campaign To Discredit French Rafale Fighter Jets Following India-Pakistan Conflict
Following India's Operation Sindoor military action against Pakistan, China orchestrated a systematic campaign through its diplomatic network to damage the reputation of France's premier Rafale fighter aircraft, according to French intelligence sources. The operation involved Chinese defense attachés stationed at embassies worldwide actively working to discredit the combat effectiveness of these advanced military jets. French intelligence officials, speaking anonymously to the Associated Press, disclosed that Beijing instructed its diplomatic missions to question the Rafale's battlefield performance and discourage potential buyers from purchasing the aircraft. This coordinated effort aimed to undermine France's lucrative defense export business and weaken Paris's strategic partnerships, particularly in Asia where China seeks regional dominance. The disinformation campaign gained momentum after Pakistan's controversial claims regarding the four-day military engagement in May. Islamabad alleged it had successfully shot down five Indian Air Force aircraft, including three Rafale jets, during the conflict. India acknowledged suffering losses but has not disclosed specific details about the number or types of aircraft lost during Operation Sindoor. French Air Force Chief General Jerome Bellanger presented evidence suggesting only three Indian aircraft were lost: one Rafale, one Russian-manufactured Sukhoi, and one Mirage 2000 from an earlier French generation. If confirmed, this would mark the first combat loss of a Rafale fighter jet since its operational deployment. The Pakistani claims created significant challenges for France's defense industry, as existing and prospective Rafale customers began questioning the aircraft's combat capabilities. French intelligence identified this vulnerability and discovered that Chinese officials were actively exploiting these doubts to influence potential buyers away from the Rafale program. The Rafale fighter jet represents a cornerstone of French military exports and serves as a diplomatic tool for strengthening international relationships. Sales of these advanced aircraft generate substantial revenue for France's defense sector while enhancing the country's geopolitical influence, making them a strategic target for Chinese interference. Despite extensive intelligence gathering, French authorities have been unable to establish direct links between the disinformation campaign and Beijing's government. China has categorically rejected these accusations, with the Ministry of National Defense dismissing them as "groundless rumors and slander." Chinese officials maintain their commitment to responsible military export practices and claim to support regional stability. The revelation highlights the intersection of military technology, international arms sales, and information warfare in contemporary geopolitics. As nations increasingly compete for defense market share, the use of diplomatic channels to undermine competitors' products represents a new dimension of economic and strategic rivalry. France's allegations come amid broader concerns about Chinese influence operations and disinformation campaigns targeting Western military technologies and defense partnerships. The incident underscores the vulnerability of defense contractors to reputation-based attacks, particularly when their products face real or perceived battlefield setbacks. The situation continues to evolve as France works to counter the alleged disinformation while maintaining its position in the competitive global fighter jet market. The outcome may influence future defense procurement decisions and shape how nations approach military technology marketing in an era of increased information warfare.
The Hindu
11 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
French intelligence: China used embassies to undermine sales of France's flagship Rafale fighter jet
China deployed its embassies to spread doubts about the performance of French-made Rafale jets after they saw combat in India and Pakistan's clashes in May, French military and intelligence officials have concluded, implicating Beijing in an effort to hammer the reputation and sales of France's flagship fighter. Findings from a French intelligence service seen by The Associated Press say defence attaches in China's foreign embassies led a charge to undermine Rafale sales, seeking to persuade countries that have already ordered the French-made fighter — notably Indonesia — not to buy more and to encourage other potential buyers to choose Chinese-made planes. The findings were shared with AP by a French military official on condition that the official and the intelligence service not be named. Four days of India-Pakistan clashes in May were the most serious confrontation in years between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, and included air combat that involved dozens of aircraft from both sides. Military officials and researchers have since been digging for details of how Pakistan's Chinese-made military hardware — particularly warplanes and air-combat missiles — fared against weaponry that India used in airstrikes on Pakistani targets, notably French-made Rafale fighters. Sales of Rafales and other armaments are big business for France's defence industry and help efforts by the government in Paris to strengthen ties with other nations, including in Asia where China is becoming the dominant regional power. France is fighting what it calls a disinformation campaign against the Rafale Pakistan claimed its air force downed five Indian planes during the fighting, including three Rafales. French officials say that prompted questions about their performance from countries that have bought the fighter from French manufacturer Dassault Aviation. India has not officially mentioned on aircraft losses in Operation Sindoor. French Air Force chief Gen Jerome Bellanger said that he's seen evidence pointing to just 3 Indian losses — a Rafale, a Russian-made Sukhoi and a Mirage 2000, which is an earlier generation French-made jet. It was the first known combat loss of a Rafale, which France has sold to eight countries. 'Of course, all those, the nations that bought Rafales, asked themselves questions,' Bellanger said. French officials have been battling to protect the plane from reputational damage, pushing back against what they allege was a concerted campaign of Rafale-bashing and disinformation online from Pakistan and its ally China. They say the campaign included viral posts on social media, manipulated imagery showing supposed Rafale debris, AI-generated content and video-game depictions to simulate supposed combat. More than 1,000 social media accounts newly created as the India-Pakistan clashes erupted also spread a narrative of Chinese technological superiority, according to French researchers who specialize in online disinformation. French military officials say they haven't been able to link the online Rafale-bashing directly to the Chinese government. Intelligence assessment says Chinese officials lobbied potential clients to ditch French planes But the French intelligence service said Chinese embassy defence attaches echoed the same narrative in meetings they held with security and defence officials from other countries, arguing that Indian Air Force Rafales performed poorly and promoting Chinese-made weaponry. The defence attaches focused their lobbying on countries that have ordered Rafales and other potential customer-nations that are considering purchases, the intelligence service said. It said French officials learned of the meetings from nations that were approached. Asked by AP to comment on the alleged effort to dent the Rafale's appeal, the Ministry of National Defence in Beijing said: 'The relevant claims are pure groundless rumors and slander. China has consistently maintained a prudent and responsible approach to military exports, playing a constructive role in regional and global peace and stability.' In recent years, China has stepped up disinformation campaigns on global social media platforms like X, Instagram or Facebook, using networks of state-sponsored influencers, sites that pose as news organizations, and fake social media accounts to spread narratives from Beijing. France's Defence Ministry said the Rafale was targeted by 'a vast campaign of disinformation" that 'sought to promote the superiority of alternative equipment, notably of Chinese design.' France considers the jet a strategic French offering "The Rafale was not randomly targeted. It is a highly capable fighter jet, exported abroad and deployed in a high-visibility theater," the Defence Ministry wrote on its website. 'The Rafale was also targeted because it represents a strategic French offering. By attacking the aircraft, certain actors sought to undermine the credibility of France and its defence industrial and technological base. The disinformation campaign therefore did not merely target an aircraft, but more broadly a national image of strategic autonomy, industrial reliability, and solid partnerships.' Dassault Aviation has sold 533 Rafales, including 323 for export to Egypt, India, Qatar, Greece, Croatia, the United Arab Emirates, Serbia and Indonesia. Indonesia has ordered 42 planes and is considering buying more. China may be hoping to weaken the security relationships that France is building with Asian nations by spreading worries about the equipment it supplies, said Justin Bronk, an airpower specialist at the Royal United Services Institute, a defence and security think tank in London. 'From a point of view of limiting Western countries' influence in the Indo-Pacific, it would make sense for China to be using the performance of Pakistani weapon systems — or at least purported performance — in downing at least one Rafale as a tool to undermine its attractiveness as an export,' he said. 'They certainly saw an opportunity to damage French sales prospects in the region."
Time of India
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
China 'deployed' embassies to undermine Rafale: French intel
PARIS: China deployed its embassies to spread doubts about the performance of French-made Rafale jets after they saw combat in India and Pakistan's clashes in May, French military and intelligence officials have concluded, implicating Beijing in an effort to hammer the reputation and sales of France's flagship fighter. Findings from a French intelligence service seen by Associated Press say defence attaches in China's foreign embassies led a charge to undermine Rafale sales, seeking to persuade countries that have already ordered the French-made fighter - notably Indonesia - not to buy more and to encourage other potential buyers to choose Chinese-made planes. The findings were shared with AP by a French military official . Four days of India-Pakistan clashes in May were the most serious confrontation in years between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, and included air combat that involved dozens of aircraft from both sides. Military officials and researchers have since been digging for details of how Pakistan's Chinese-made military hardware - particularly warplanes and air-combat missiles - fared against weaponry that India used in airstrikes on Pakistani targets, notably French-made Rafale fighters. Sales of Rafales and other armaments are big business for France's defence industry and help efforts by govt in Paris to strengthen ties with other nations, including in Asia where China is becoming the dominant regional power. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Mucus in Lungs? Do This if You Feel Breathlessness Neuracare Learn More Undo Pakistan claimed its air force downed five Indian planes during the fighting, including three Rafales. French officials say that prompted questions about their performance from countries that have bought the fighter from French manufacturer Dassault Aviation. India acknowledged aircraft losses but didn't say how many. French air force chief Gen Jerome Bellanger said that he's seen evidence pointing to just 3 Indian losses - a Rafale, a Russian-made Sukhoi and a Mirage 2000. It was the first known combat loss of a Rafale. French officials have been battling to protect the plane from reputational damage, pushing back against what they allege was a concerted campaign of Rafale-bashing and disinformation online from Pakistan and its ally China. They say the campaign included viral posts on social media, manipulated imagery showing supposed Rafale debris, AI-generated content and video-game depictions to simulate supposed combat. French military officials say they haven't been able to link the online Rafale-bashing directly to Chinese govt. But the French intelligence service said Chinese embassy defence attaches echoed the same narrative in meetings they held with security and defence officials from other countries, arguing that IAFRafales performed poorly and promoting Chinese-made weaponry. Asked by AP to comment on the alleged effort to dent Rafale's appeal, ministry of national defence in Beijing said: "The relevant claims are pure groundless rumours. China has consistently maintained a prudent approach to military exports, playing a constructive role in regional and global peace and stability." AP
NDTV
a day ago
- Politics
- NDTV
China Used Embassies To Undermine Rafale Sales After India-Pakistan Tensions: Report
Paris: China deployed its embassies to spread doubts about the performance of French-made Rafale jets after they saw combat in India and Pakistan's clashes in May, French military and intelligence officials have concluded, implicating Beijing in an effort to hammer the reputation and sales of France's flagship fighter. Findings from a French intelligence service seen by The Associated Press say defense attaches in China's foreign embassies led a charge to undermine Rafale sales, seeking to persuade countries that have already ordered the French-made fighter - notably Indonesia - not to buy more and to encourage other potential buyers to choose Chinese-made planes. The findings were shared with AP by a French military official on condition that the official and the intelligence service not be named. Four days of India-Pakistan clashes in May were the most serious confrontation in years between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, and included air combat that involved dozens of aircraft from both sides. Military officials and researchers have since been digging for details of how Pakistan's Chinese-made military hardware - particularly warplanes and air-combat missiles - fared against weaponry that India used in airstrikes on Pakistani targets, notably French-made Rafale fighters. Sales of Rafales and other armaments are big business for France's defense industry and help efforts by the government in Paris to strengthen ties with other nations, including in Asia where China is becoming the dominant regional power. France Fighting What It Calls A Disinformation Campaign Against Rafale Pakistan claimed its air force downed five Indian planes during the fighting, including three Rafales. French officials say that prompted questions about their performance from countries that have bought the fighter from French manufacturer Dassault Aviation. India acknowledged aircraft losses but didn't say how many. French air force chief Gen. Jerome Bellanger said that he's seen evidence pointing to just 3 Indian losses - a Rafale, a Russian-made Sukhoi and a Mirage 2000, which is an earlier generation French-made jet. It was the first known combat loss of a Rafale, which France has sold to eight countries. "Of course, all those, the nations that bought Rafales, asked themselves questions," Bellanger said. French officials have been battling to protect the plane from reputational damage, pushing back against what they allege was a concerted campaign of Rafale-bashing and disinformation online from Pakistan and its ally China. They say the campaign included viral posts on social media, manipulated imagery showing supposed Rafale debris, AI-generated content and video-game depictions to simulate supposed combat. More than 1,000 social media accounts newly created as the India-Pakistan clashes erupted also spread a narrative of Chinese technological superiority, according to French researchers who specialize in online disinformation. French military officials say they haven't been able to link the online Rafale-bashing directly to the Chinese government. Intelligence assessment says Chinese officials lobbied potential clients to ditch French planes But the French intelligence service said Chinese embassy defense attaches echoed the same narrative in meetings they held with security and defense officials from other countries, arguing that Indian Air Force Rafales performed poorly and promoting Chinese-made weaponry. The defense attaches focused their lobbying on countries that have ordered Rafales and other potential customer-nations that are considering purchases, the intelligence service said. It said French officials learned of the meetings from nations that were approached. Asked by AP to comment on the alleged effort to dent the Rafale's appeal, the Ministry of National Defense in Beijing said: "The relevant claims are pure groundless rumors and slander. China has consistently maintained a prudent and responsible approach to military exports, playing a constructive role in regional and global peace and stability." In recent years, China has stepped up disinformation campaigns on global social media platforms like X, Instagram or Facebook, using networks of state-sponsored influencers, sites that pose as news organizations, and fake social media accounts to spread narratives from Beijing. France's Defense Ministry said the Rafale was targeted by "a vast campaign of disinformation" that "sought to promote the superiority of alternative equipment, notably of Chinese design." France Considers Jet A 'Strategic French Offering' "The Rafale was not randomly targeted. It is a highly capable fighter jet, exported abroad and deployed in a high-visibility theater," the Defense Ministry wrote on its website. "The Rafale was also targeted because it represents a strategic French offering. By attacking the aircraft, certain actors sought to undermine the credibility of France and its defense industrial and technological base. The disinformation campaign therefore did not merely target an aircraft, but more broadly a national image of strategic autonomy, industrial reliability, and solid partnerships." Dassault Aviation has sold 533 Rafales, including 323 for export to Egypt, India, Qatar, Greece, Croatia, the United Arab Emirates, Serbia and Indonesia. Indonesia has ordered 42 planes and is considering buying more. China may be hoping to weaken the security relationships that France is building with Asian nations by spreading worries about the equipment it supplies, said Justin Bronk, an airpower specialist at the Royal United Services Institute, a defense and security think tank in London. "From a point of view of limiting Western countries' influence in the Indo-Pacific, it would make sense for China to be using the performance of Pakistani weapon systems - or at least purported performance - in downing at least one Rafale as a tool to undermine its attractiveness as an export," he said. "They certainly saw an opportunity to damage French sales prospects in the region."
