Dassault says CEO made no comments on Rafale's ‘operational or technical' issues during Op Sindoor
The denial follows media reports that 'quoted' Trappier on details about Indian Air Force (IAF) operations and aircraft loss during armed hostilities along the LoC post the terrorist attack in Pahalgam.
New Delhi: Dassault Aviation has issued a formal clarification denying reports that its CEO, Eric Trappier, made any 'operational or technical comments' regarding Rafale fighter jets in Operation Sindoor.
A report by the French aviation website Avion De Chasse had earlier 'cited' Trappier during a 15 June press conference, where he allegedly dismissed Islamabad's claims.
Trappier was quoted as stating that no Rafale aircraft was shot down in combat, although India did lose one jet due to a technical malfunction.
According to the report, Trappier confirmed there was no enemy engagement involved. The incident occurred at an altitude of over 12,000 metres during an extended training mission, with no signs of hostile radar contact or enemy involvement.
Addressing Pakistan's claims that three Indian Rafale jets were shot down during Operation Sindoor, Trappier dismissed the allegations as 'inaccurate and unfounded.'
During the briefing, Trappier also rejected suggestions of any operational failure. He pointed to data from the Rafale's Spectra electronic warfare system, which showed no hostile engagements during the relevant timeframe. Additionally, he noted that friend-or-foe identification systems and flight logs provided to Dassault showed no Rafale losses in actual combat.
The Indian government has also pushed back against disinformation. The Press Information Bureau (PIB) conducted a fact-check 7 July, debunking viral social media claims suggesting the death of four IAF pilots, including three Rafale operators during Operation Sindoor.
🚨"India Admits Rafale Pilot Loss?" – Here's the truth behind this claim:
Several Pakistani propaganda handles are spreading false claims that India has officially confirmed the loss of 4 IAF pilots, including those flying 3 Rafale jets.#PIBFactCheck
❌ FAKE ALERT!
✅ The… pic.twitter.com/4v8FSMOJAX
— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) July 7, 2025
Last month, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan acknowledged during the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore that the Indian Air Force (IAF) had incurred some losses during Operation Sindoor. However, he categorically rejected Pakistan's claims of having shot down six Indian aircraft, including Rafales, calling them 'absolutely incorrect.'
Earlier this month, French intelligence sources cited by Associated Press revealed that China orchestrated a covert campaign aimed at damaging the global reputation of the Rafale jet following its combat deployment during Op Sindoor. According to the report, Chinese embassies reportedly directed defence attachés to discredit the Rafale's performance to dissuade buyers like Indonesia from purchasing more units and to steer potential clients toward Chinese-made alternatives.
(Edited by Viny Mishra)
Also read: Pakistan's claim on 3 Rafales shot down 'inaccurate', better than F-35 & Chinese fighters—Dassault CEO
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