France Battles Disinformation Campaign Targeting Its Rafale Fighter Jets
According to reports, France is retaliating against a disinformation campaign that aims to undermine its Rafale fighter jets. According to French military and intelligence officials, China may be disseminating misleading information through its embassies in an effort to harm the Rafale's sales and reputation.
Chinese defence attachés at embassies around the world have been subtly discouraging nations from purchasing more Rafale jets, promoting Chinese-made fighters as a superior substitute, according to French intelligence sources, as reported by The Associated Press. In Asia, where China is actively attempting to become the leading military force, France is looking to deepen its defence relations with nations like India and others.
The controversy escalated after Pakistan claimed to have shot down five Indian planes, including three Rafales, during clashes in May. India has not confirmed these claims. Air Marshal AK Bharti responded cautiously, saying losses are a normal part of any combat, without confirming or denying the specific claims. Indian Navy Captain Shiv Kumar also acknowledged some losses during the initial phase of operations but dismissed the claim that as many as five fighter jets were lost.
Dassault Aviation CEO Eric Trappier, whose company manufactures the Rafale, dismissed Pakistan’s claims as "inaccurate," calling them baseless in an interview with French magazine Challenges.
French officials say they are actively countering what they describe as a coordinated online campaign to discredit the Rafale. This campaign reportedly includes fake images of Rafale wreckage, AI-generated content, and the creation of more than a thousand social media accounts spreading misleading information to promote Chinese military technology as superior.
While French military intelligence hasn’t directly linked the campaign to the Chinese government, it notes that Chinese embassy defense attaches have echoed similar negative narratives in meetings with foreign officials, especially targeting countries that have already bought Rafales or are potential buyers.
The French defense ministry called the campaign “a vast disinformation effort” aimed at promoting alternative, especially Chinese, military equipment. It emphasized that the Rafale isn’t just a fighter jet but a symbol of France’s strategic autonomy and industrial strength. Attacking the Rafale, the ministry said, is an attack on France’s national image and its defense partnerships worldwide.
In response, China’s Ministry of National Defense told the Associated Press that France’s accusations were “pure groundless rumours and slander,” stressing China’s “prudent and responsible approach” to military exports.
The Rafale’s Global Footprint
Dassault Aviation has sold 533 Rafale jets to date, including 323 exports to countries like Egypt, India, Qatar, Greece, Croatia, the UAE, Serbia, and Indonesia. Indonesia alone has ordered 42 planes and is reportedly considering purchasing more.
