Dassault CEO Says India Lost A Rafale, But Not During Combat, Dismisses ‘Inaccurate’ Pak Claim

In a bid to counter allegations made by the Pakistani military, Dassault Aviation CEO Eric Trappier has categorically denied reports that multiple Indian Rafale fighter jets were downed during recent aerial engagements. In June, Trappier clarified that while India did lose one Rafale aircraft, the incident was not a result of enemy fire.

The remarks came in response to claims by Pakistan’s military that three Indian Rafales were destroyed during ‘Operation Sindoor’. These assertions, made public via an official communiqué from Rawalpindi earlier in June, were widely circulated in local media and amplified across social media platforms. Both the Indian government and Dassault Aviation have since strongly contested the narrative.

Dassault Rejects Pakistani Narrative, Acknowledges Technical Failure

Labeling the Pakistani accusations as “inaccurate and unfounded,” Trappier stated that no Rafale aircraft were lost in combat. However, he confirmed that a single Rafale had been lost due to a technical failure at high altitude, which is currently under investigation.

According to a report in Avion Chasse, Trappier’s remarks aimed to dispel misinformation and safeguard the operational image of the Rafale, which has been in Indian service since 2020. The French defence manufacturer emphasised that onboard systems, including the Spectra electronic warfare suite and Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) systems, recorded no hostile engagements during the timeframe in question.

He further alleged that a deliberate disinformation campaign might be underway to undermine Rafale’s global image, particularly as Dassault competes in major defence tenders in countries like Colombia, Serbia, and Malaysia.

India Dismissed Pakistani Narrative On Rafale

India’s Defence Secretary RK Singh has also refuted the claims during an interview with CNBC TV18. “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,” he said, adding, “No political constraints on our armed forces and they have full operational freedom in conflict.”

This remark was in reference to, India’s Defence Attaché to Jakarta, Navy Captain Shiv Kumar, who, during a seminar in Indonesia, noted, “I may not agree with him 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.”

The first public acknowledgement of Indian losses came earlier from General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff, during the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. He indicated that the Indian Air Force (IAF) had experienced losses but dismissed Pakistan’s claim of six aircraft being shot down—including Rafales—as “absolutely incorrect”.

China Spreading Disinformation Against Rafale?

In a related development, the Associated Press has reported findings from a French intelligence service alleging that China orchestrated a disinformation campaign to tarnish the Rafale’s international reputation. According to the report, Chinese embassies and military attachés had lobbied several governments to reconsider existing or potential Rafale purchases in favour of Chinese alternatives.

These efforts, said to be coordinated through diplomatic and military channels, coincided with Pakistan’s claim that it had shot down five Indian jets, including three Rafales, during hostilities in May.

In June, Air Marshal A.K. Bharti acknowledged at a press briefing that losses are part of any combat scenario, while neither confirming nor denying the specifics of Pakistan’s assertions.

Since entering service with the IAF, the Rafale has become a cornerstone of Dassault’s export success, with over 290 units ordered by countries including Egypt, Qatar, Greece, the UAE, Croatia, and Indonesia. The timing of these allegations is critical, as Dassault is actively bidding for India’s MRFA programme involving 114 jets and is in discussions with nations like Saudi Arabia and Bangladesh.