Dassault CEO Clears the Air: No Rafale Was Shot Down by Pakistan, Confirms Loss Was Technical

In the middle of swirling headlines and speculative social media chatter, the CEO of Dassault Aviation has finally addressed the elephant in the sky: the reported loss of an Indian Rafale fighter jet. And no, it wasn’t shot down by Pakistan.

The Official Word from Dassault

Eric Trappier, Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation, stated unequivocally in a recent press conference that the loss of one IAF Rafale was due to a technical issue, not enemy fire. According to Avion De Chasse, the incident occurred during a high-altitude training mission at over 12,000 metres. No hostile radar activity was recorded, and the Spectra electronic warfare system onboard did not detect any enemy engagement.

This statement comes in response to claims made by Pakistan alleging that three Rafales were shot down during Operation Sindoor—claims Trappier labeled as “inaccurate and unfounded.”

No Engagement. No Radar Lock. No Shoot-Down.

During the June 15 press conference, Trappier made it clear that flight logs and IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) data confirmed no hostile interactions during the time of the supposed shoot-down. The Rafale’s onboard systems, known for their precision and reliability, recorded no evidence of enemy contact, further discrediting the Pakistani narrative.

The Indian government and the Indian Air Force have yet to officially confirm or deny the loss, although Trappier’s remarks add substantial weight to the timeline and nature of the incident.

The Political Undercurrent and China’s Alleged Role

Interestingly, a new dimension has been added to the story. As reported by Associated Press, French intelligence sources suspect China’s involvement in a disinformation campaign aimed at undermining Rafale’s credibility. The report claims Chinese embassies were mobilized to question the jet’s performance in India-Pakistan conflicts in May, suggesting the motive was to hurt Rafale’s market reputation globally.

While speculative for now, these allegations point to a wider geopolitical playbook, where military tech becomes a target for soft power skirmishes.

India’s Silence and CDS Response

Despite Trappier’s statement, there’s been no official acknowledgment from the Indian side regarding the technical loss. However, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan did comment during the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore last month that the IAF suffered “some losses” during Operation Sindoor. He categorically dismissed Pakistan’s claim of downing six aircraft, calling it “absolutely incorrect.”

Final Thoughts

One Rafale may be down, but the battlefield narrative is far from what Pakistan has claimed. With Dassault’s CEO backing up his statements with system data and French officials pointing fingers at China’s information strategy, this story reflects more than just a technical malfunction—it’s about the global reputation of one of the world’s most advanced fighter jets.

As the investigation into the incident continues, what’s clear is this: not everything that flies on Twitter is grounded in truth.