Saturday, March 29, 2025
New Delhi, July 8, 2025: Pakistan’s claim that it shot down Indian Rafale fighter jets during Operation Sindoor has been firmly rejected by both the Indian government and the aircraft’s French manufacturer, Dassault Aviation. The clarification comes after growing speculation and a coordinated disinformation effort allegedly led by Chinese diplomatic missions.
During an interview with French defense portal Avion De Chasse, Dassault Aviation CEO Eric Trappier confirmed that no Indian Rafale jets were shot down during the May conflict. Trappier acknowledged that one Rafale crashed due to a technical fault at high altitude, but clarified that it was not downed by enemy action.
India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 in retaliation to the Pahalgam terrorist attack, targeting terror bases in Pakistan. Rumors soon emerged from Pakistani media outlets claiming that five Indian aircraft had been destroyed—three of them Rafales.
India’s Defence Secretary R.K. Singh, in an interview with CNBC-TV18, dismissed these reports as false. “You’ve used the term ‘Rafales’ in plural, but let me assure you that not a single Indian Rafale was shot down during the operation,” he said. Singh added that over 100 terrorists were neutralized during the precision strikes, while India suffered minimal loss.
He emphasized that Indian armed forces were given full operational freedom, stating, “There were no political restrictions during the mission.”
According to a French intelligence report reviewed by the Associated Press, China actively tried to undermine Rafale’s reputation in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor. The report reveals that Chinese embassies were instructed to sow doubts about the aircraft’s performance and encourage countries to cancel pending Rafale deals in favor of Chinese-made fighter jets.
French defense attachés reported that China’s campaign particularly targeted Indonesia, which has signed a contract for Rafale jets. Chinese officials allegedly urged Jakarta to reconsider, citing the Pakistani claims as evidence of the aircraft’s vulnerability.
A senior French military official, speaking anonymously, said, “This was a calculated attempt to damage Rafale’s global image and disrupt France’s defense export deals.”
The narrative surrounding Operation Sindoor has once again highlighted how disinformation can shape defense perceptions. With both India and Dassault Aviation confirming that no Rafale jets were shot down, Pakistan’s claims appear to be part of a larger geo-strategic misinformation effort, possibly amplified by China to boost its own defense industry.
In Summary:
Dassault Aviation and the Indian government have debunked Pakistan’s claim of downing Rafale jets during Operation Sindoor. A French intelligence report points to a Chinese-led disinformation campaign aimed at sabotaging Rafale sales, especially in Southeast Asia.
