Pakistan's Claim Of Downing Three IAF Rafale Fighter Jets 'Inaccurate': Dassault CEO

Eric Trappier, CEO of Dassault Aviation, has rejected Pakistan’s claim that it downed three Indian Rafale fighter jets during India’s Operation Sindoor, according to a India Today report.

This is the first public response from the French aerospace giant regarding the claims by Pakistan.

In an interview with French magazine Challenges, Trappier clarified that there was no communication from India about any Rafale losses, asserting that the Pakistani claim was "inaccurate."

Speaking ahead of the Paris Air Show, Trappier noted, "The Indians have not communicated, so we do not know exactly what happened. What we already know is that the words of the Pakistanis - three destroyed Rafales - are inaccurate."

He went on to emphasise that the evaluation of modern combat operations should focus not solely on losses but on whether the mission objectives were met.

Drawing a historical comparison, Trappier remarked, "During the Second World War, it was not said that the Allies had lost the war because they had lost troops."

He cautioned that the full scope of the operation might not yet be known, suggesting that "some may have surprises" as more facts emerge.

Operation Sindoor was India’s first major deployment of the Rafale since its induction in 2020 and represented a significant display of India's air superiority, with analysts dismissing Pakistan’s claims due to a lack of evidence.

Trappier reiterated the Rafale’s capabilities, highlighting its flexibility and versatility, which makes it one of the most effective multirole fighters in the world.

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