‘India lost one Rafale due to technical fault’: Dassault CEO refutes Pakistan’s claims from Operation Sindoor
Dassault Aviation Chairman and CEO Eric Trappier has dismissed Pakistan’s claims of shooting down Indian Rafale fighter jets during the recent conflict, calling the assertions “inaccurate and unfounded.” Speaking about the events of Operation Sindoor, which began on May 7, Trappier confirmed that India lost one Rafale aircraft—but due to a technical failure at high altitude, not enemy fire.
Pakistan's Air Force had earlier claimed it shot down five Indian Air Force jets—including three Rafales—using PL-15E long-range missiles fired from Chinese-made J-10C aircraft. However, no evidence was provided to support the claim.
In comments published by French defense outlet Avion Chasse, Trappier acknowledged the loss of one aircraft but made it clear that it was not shot down. “There was no hostile engagement. Our Spectra electronic warfare system recorded no signs of enemy contact, and flight data sent to Dassault also showed no indication of combat losses,” he said.
Trappier also addressed what he described as a broader disinformation campaign targeting the Rafale program. He stressed that Dassault has always been transparent about operational losses and does not hide such incidents.
India’s Defence Secretary RK Singh backed Trappier’s remarks, saying it was “absolutely incorrect” to claim multiple Rafales were downed. “You’ve used the term ‘Rafales’ in plural. I can assure you that’s not accurate. Pakistan suffered far greater losses—in both personnel and assets. More than 100 terrorists were neutralized,” he told CNBC TV18.
Earlier, India’s Defence Attaché to Indonesia, Navy Captain Shiv Kumar, had acknowledged some aircraft losses on the first day of Operation Sindoor. He attributed these to the Indian government’s initial directive that limited airstrikes to terrorist targets, rather than Pakistani military installations. “I don’t agree with the claim that many aircraft were lost, but we did lose some due to the constraints placed on our operations,” he said.
Meanwhile, French intelligence has linked the spread of misinformation about Rafale to a coordinated campaign led by Chinese defense attachés stationed at foreign embassies. The effort reportedly aims to undermine global confidence in the French fighter jet and promote Chinese alternatives.
French officials revealed that the May conflict caused some countries to question Rafale’s reliability, following Pakistan’s unverified claims. France’s Ministry of Defence responded by condemning what it called a “vast campaign of disinformation” targeting not only the Rafale but France’s defense credibility as a whole.
“The Rafale represents France’s strategic and technological prowess. Attacking it is an attempt to challenge our national image of autonomy, industrial strength, and dependable international partnerships,” the ministry said.
To date, Dassault Aviation has sold 533 Rafale jets, including 323 for export. Countries operating the aircraft include India, Egypt, Qatar, Greece, Croatia, the UAE, Serbia, and Indonesia.
