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India Today
08-07-2025
- Business
- India Today
Dassault says CEO Eric Trappier made no remarks on Rafale's use in Op Sindoor
French defence manufacturer Dassault Aviation on Tuesday denied that their Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Eric Trappier, made any remarks on the Rafale fighter jet's use in India's Operation Sindoor precision strikes that hit Pakistani terror infrastructure on May from Saint-Cloud, France, the statement clarified that Trappier made no operational or technical remarks on the use of Rafale jets, distancing the company from combat-related response to certain press reports quoting Dassault Aviation Chairman and CEO, Eric Trappier, about the Sindoor operation, Dassault Aviation formally denies that Eric Trappier has made any operational or technical comments regarding the use of the Rafale in this operation," it said in a statement on Tuesday. Dassault's clarification came after French defence website Avion De Chasse quoted Trappier as saying that India did lose one Rafale fighter jet, but that was because of a technical malfunction, and not due to enemy action. It reported that it happened "at an altitude of over 12,000 metres during an extended training mission".Last month, Trappier dismissed Pakistan's claim of having shot down Indian Air Force's Rafale fighter jets during Operation Sindoor, marking the first public response from the French aerospace an interview with French magazine Challenges, Trappier said there was no official communication from the Indian side on any Rafale losses during Operation Sindoor, conducted in early May, but made it clear that Pakistan's claim of downing three Rafales was "inaccurate".- Ends
Time of India
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
One Rafale lost, but zero were shot down during Operation Sindoor: Dassault CEO rubbishes Pakistan's claim
Operation Sindoor kicked off on 7 May with India launching a high-intensity air campaign. Pakistan's Air Force wasted no time claiming it shot down five Indian jets, including three Rafales, using its J-10C fighters armed with PL-15E missiles. The catch? No evidence ever surfaced. Eric Trappier, Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation , set the record straight. In his words, the loss was down to a 'technical failure at high altitude', not enemy missiles. He called Pakistan's claims 'inaccurate and unfounded' when speaking to Avion De Chasse. The Spectra electronic warfare suite, which should detect threats, never picked up hostile contact. Flight logs back him up. France fights Chinese rumours This single incident snowballed into something bigger. France's Defence Ministry has accused China's embassies of orchestrating a targeted smear campaign to undercut Rafale sales and push the J-10C as a cheaper option. French intelligence traced fake images, AI-generated clips and thousands of new social media accounts spreading tales of downed Rafales. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 20 Pieces of Clothing you Can be Too Old for Learn More Undo 'The Rafale was not randomly targeted,' said a Defence Ministry note. 'By attacking the aircraft, certain actors sought to undermine the credibility of France and its defence industrial and technological base.' For France, this isn't just about jets. It's about its standing as an arms exporter and a reliable partner. What India has said India's official line has been muddled at best. Defence Secretary RK Singh told CNBC TV-18, 'You have used the term Rafales in the plural, I can assure you that is absolutely not correct. Pakistan suffered losses many times over India in both human and material terms, and more than 100 terrorists.' Live Events Captain Shiv Kumar, India's defence attaché to Indonesia, conceded India lost jets on the first day but blamed government orders restricting strikes to terror camps. 'I may not agree that India lost so many aircraft. But I do agree that we did lose some aircraft, and that happened only because of the constraint given by the political leadership to not attack the military establishments and their air defences.' What the French Air Force chief saw Adding to the confusion, General Jerome Bellanger, the French Air Force Chief, told The Associated Press he saw evidence that India lost a Mirage 2000, a Sukhoi and a Rafale. If true, this marks the first Rafale lost in combat out of the 533 built so far — 323 sold abroad to Egypt, Qatar, UAE, Greece, Croatia, Serbia, Indonesia and India. Yet Trappier stands by his statement: 'the loss of one aircraft' had nothing to do with Pakistan. The wreckage came down at over 12,000 metres, mid-training, far from any enemy radar. The other side of the skies Pakistan didn't escape unscathed. Air Marshal AK Bharti briefed reporters during the clashes that India shot down several Pakistani jets, blocking them from crossing into Indian airspace. 'We definitely shot down several planes, and they have suffered losses on their part,' he said. Unofficial reports suggest Pakistan lost three JF-17 Thunders, two Mirage III/V, an F-16, a C-130 Hercules and two Saab Erieye-2000 surveillance planes. One of those AEW&CS aircraft going down is no small loss. They're the eyes and ears of modern air forces, watching the skies for fighters and missiles long before ground radars can see them. China in the shadows French officials argue China's motive is simple: if Rafale's reputation wobbles, its J-10C fighter looks more appealing. As the EurAsian Times pointed out, Rafale exports have long helped France build influence, especially in Asia where China is keen to expand its footprint. Beijing hit back, saying, 'The relevant claims are pure groundless rumours and slander. China has consistently maintained a prudent and responsible approach to military exports.' Despite the swirl of headlines, Dassault Aviation's share price has started to recover after a brief slump. The stock opened slightly higher at €297.40 on 8 July after Defence Secretary RK Singh shot down Pakistan's claims.
New Indian Express
08-07-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
One IAF Rafale lost, but not shot by Pakistan: Dassault CEO
NEW DELHI: The protracted debate on loss of Indian Air Force's Rafale combat jets with Pakistan claiming to have shot was debunked by the CEO of Dassault company which manufactures the said fighter jets. Dassault Aviation Chairman and CEO Eric Trappier was quoted saying no Rafale was shot down in combat, but India had lost one jet due to technical failure, and a probe into the incident is currently on. Trappier said, French website Avion De Chasse reported, there was no enemy engagement involved in the incident. The incident 'occurred at an altitude of over 12,000 metres during an extended training mission, with no enemy involvement or hostile radar contact,' the report said. Speaking specifically on Pakistan's allegations that three Indian Dassault Rafales were reportedly shot down during Operation Sindoor, Eric Trappier said these allegations were 'inaccurate and unfounded'. Trappier took on Pakistan for false claims in a press conference held on June 15, which Avion De Chasse reported.
The Print
07-07-2025
- Politics
- The Print
‘No Rafale shot down in combat, India lost one to technical malfunction, probe on': Dassault CEO
However, India has not made any official statement or assertions acknowledging the loss of a Rafale aircraft in non-hostile conditions. The report appeared in a French website Avion De Chasse saying the incident occurred 'at an altitude of over 12,000 metres during an extended training mission, with no enemy involvement or hostile radar contact'. New Delhi: India has lost one Rafale fighter jet, but the incident, currently under probe, was due to a high-altitude technical failure and involved no enemy engagement, says a French report quoting Dassault Aviation Chairman and CEO Éric Trappier. Last month, India's Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan, speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore had acknowledged that the IAF did suffer losses during Op Sindoor. However, he categorically denied Pakistan's claim of downing six Indian jets, including Rafales, calling the assertion 'absolutely incorrect'. In a separate interview with Reuters the same day, General Chauhan had further added, 'We rectified tactics and then went back on 7th, 8th and 10th—on the 10th in large numbers—to hit airbases deep inside Pakistan. (We) penetrated all their air defences with impunity and carried out precision strikes.' Separately, India's Defence Attaché to Indonesia, Navy Captain Shiv Kumar, also acknowledged 'some' losses during Operation Sindoor. Speaking at a seminar in Indonesia, he was responding to a previous speaker who had cited Pakistan's claim that multiple Indian fighters, including three Rafales, were shot down. 'I may not agree with him that India lost so many aircraft. But I do agree that we did lose some aircraft, and that happened only because of the constraint given by the political leadership to not attack the military establishments and their air defences,' Capt. Kumar said, referring to directives that restricted Indian military to targeting only terror camps. Dassault Aviation Chairman and CEO Éric Trappier had earlier rejected Pakistan's claim of shooting down three Rafale jets during Operation Sindoor, calling the allegations 'inaccurate and unfounded'. Refuting Pakistan's claims of downing six fighter aircraft, he had said then that, 'the Indians haven't communicated, so we don't know exactly what happened. What we already know is that what the Pakistanis are saying, three Rafales destroyed is inaccurate.' In the French report published 25 June, Trappier, ahead of the Paris Air Show, had spoken from a technical angle to 'firmly reject any suggestion of operational failure.' He, according to the report, said that the Rafale's SPECTRA electronic warfare suite had detected no signs of hostile engagement at the time. Adding that, data from friend-or-foe systems and flight logs shared with Dassault supported the conclusion that there were no combat-related losses. Trappier had further framed the Pakistani claims as part of a broader disinformation strategy aimed at undermining the credibility of the Rafale fighter, especially as it competes in several ongoing international tenders, including in Colombia, Serbia and Malaysia. He noted that Dassault has never concealed operational losses, citing detailed public reporting from French military campaigns in the Sahel. French intelligence officials further suspect that China played a key role in fueling skepticism around the Rafale's combat performance following Operation Sindoor. According to findings reported by the Associated Press on Sunday, classified intelligence assessments suggest that Chinese defence attachés actively lobbied foreign governments, especially Indonesia, urging them to reconsider additional Rafale purchases and instead opt for Chinese-made fighter aircraft. French military officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, believe this effort was part of a broader strategy to undermine Rafale's export prospects. (Edited by Viny Mishra) Also read: Pakistan's claim on 3 Rafales shot down 'inaccurate', better than F-35 & Chinese fighters—Dassault CEO
