Dassault Aviation Chairman and CEO Eric Trappier has categorically dismissed Pakistan’s claims of shooting down three Indian Rafale jets during Operation Sindoor.
In an interview with Challenges, a French magazine, Trappier affirmed that Dassault has received no official communication from the Indian Air Force (IAF) indicating any Rafale losses, firmly branding the Pakistani narrative as false. “The reports of Indian Rafales being lost are not accurate,” Trappier stated.
“The Indians haven’t communicated, so we don’t know exactly what happened. What we already know is that what the Pakistanis are saying is inaccurate,” Trappier told the magazine while responding to a question about reports suggesting “India’s loss of at least one Rafale” during the confrontation. He further added, “What Pakistan is claiming about downing three Rafales is simply not true.”
“When the complete details are known, the reality may surprise many,” he added. In the interview just ahead of the Paris Air Show, Trappier highlighted the formidable reputation of the Rafale as a premier multirole fighter jet. “If you want a single aircraft capable of air-to-air combat, reconnaissance, ground strikes, nuclear deterrence, and aircraft carrier deployment, Rafale is unmatched,” he said.
In remarks made ahead of the Paris Air Show, Trappier reaffirmed the Rafale’s status as one of the most capable multirole fighter jets in the world. He described the aircraft as unmatched in its versatility, capable of executing a wide range of missions including air-to-air combat, reconnaissance, ground strikes, nuclear deterrence, and aircraft carrier operations.
While conceding that the American F-22 has an edge in stealth, Trappier maintained that the Rafale offers superior real-world performance compared to the F-35. He also claimed that the aircraft is significantly more capable than anything currently fielded by China.
Islamabad had earlier claimed that it shot down six Indian aircraft on May 7 and 10. Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif had earlier claimed Pakistani forces downed five Indian aircraft, including three Rafales, and captured Indian soldiers during a retaliatory attack following India’s airstrikes during Operation Sindoor. However, it has not released any evidence to support these claims.
India has already denied that any of its fighter jets were destroyed during Operation Sindoor, which had successfully demolished terror infrastructure with precision bombing deep inside Pakistan territory.
This was followed by missile attacks that caused considerable damage to key bases of the Pakistani Air Force. Air Marshal AK Bharti, Director General Air Operations, addressed a similar query in a May 11 press briefing. “We are in a combat scenario; losses are a part of combat,” he stated, emphasising the mission’s success. Bharti added, “The question you must ask is whether we have achieved our objective of decimating the terrorist camps. The answer is a thumping yes.”
Defence analysts have dismissed the Pakistani narrative as sheer propaganda, which is in tune with the country’s playbook, as has been the experience in the past.