Dassault CEO Breaks Silence: Pakistan’s Claim of Downing Rafales “Inaccurate”

 

His remarks, delivered in an exclusive interview with French magazine Challenges, come at a critical moment before the Paris Air Show, where the Rafale is expected to be a major focal point amid intensifying global scrutiny of advanced fighter jet performance in active combat zones.

Indian Air Force (IAF) Rafale fighter jet

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — Dassault Aviation CEO Éric Trappier has forcefully denied Pakistan’s assertion that its air force shot down three Indian Rafale fighter jets during the recent Operation Sindoor conflict, branding the widely-circulated claim as “inaccurate.”

His remarks, delivered in an exclusive interview with French magazine Challenges, come at a critical moment before the Paris Air Show, where the Rafale is expected to be a major focal point amid intensifying global scrutiny of advanced fighter jet performance in active combat zones.

“The reports of Indian Rafales being lost are not accurate,” Trappier declared, dismissing the Pakistani narrative while reaffirming Dassault’s confidence in the Rafale’s battlefield resilience and multi-role superiority.

The bold rebuttal directly challenges Islamabad’s narrative that Chinese-built J-10C “Vigorous Dragon” fighters, equipped with PL-15E long-range air-to-air missiles, downed three Rafales during what it claimed was a decisive aerial engagement.

As reported extensively by Defence Security Asia, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had alleged that a total of six Indian jets—including three Rafales, one Su-30MKI, one MiG-29, and one Mirage 2000—were neutralized during high-intensity night and day operations from May 5–7 near the Line of Control.

The claims, quickly amplified by regional media and online platforms, were presented as a watershed moment for the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), with Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar stating, “The much-hyped Rafale fighter jets have failed disastrously, and the Indian Air Force pilots have demonstrated a clear lack of proficiency.”

 According to sources cited by a Pakistani defence journalists, Pakistan Air Force (PAF) J-10C reportedly downed Indian Air Force (IAF) Rafale from a staggering 182 kilometres away using the Chinese-manufactured PL-15 Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air-to-air missile.

Indian Air Force (IAF) Rafale fighter jet

In the reported engagement, the Pakistani J-10C is said to have remained entirely within Pakistan’s sovereign airspace while launching the PL-15 missile that successfully engaged the IAF Rafale across the Line of Control during the opening salvos of the India-Pakistan aerial conflict.

The initial days of the conflict between the two nuclear-armed South Asian rivals saw what defence analysts now describe as “the largest air battle in modern history,” with a total of 125 fighter jets from both air forces reportedly taking to the skies in simultaneous combat sorties.

Trappier’s statement, however, represents a strategic counteroffensive from Dassault to safeguard the Rafale’s reputation just as the aircraft continues to anchor Indian air power doctrine and expand its export footprint globally.

“It’s always difficult to say we’re the best in absolute terms,” Trappier said. “But I believe we offer the best compromise.”

“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 added.

The Dassault chief acknowledged that in a direct dogfight, the U.S. F-22 Raptor may enjoy stealth advantages, but argued that in real-world mission readiness, the Rafale outperforms the F-35 and is “far better than anything China currently offers.”

Trappier’s defense of the Rafale aligns with India’s broader military messaging campaign, which has steadily countered Pakistani claims with carefully calibrated official responses.