New Delhi /Paris, June 17: Dassault Aviation chief executive Éric Trappier has dismissed Pakistan’s claims that its forces shot down multiple Rafale fighter jets during a brief military confrontation with India last month, calling the assertions “inaccurate” and cautioning against premature conclusions about the outcome of the conflict.
Trappier said, “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 an interview with French magazine.
The comments mark the French manufacturer’s first public reaction following a flurry of speculation after the May 7 conflict, which erupted after a deadly terror attack in Indian-administered Kashmir’s Pahalgam region. In response, India launched Operation Sindoor, a coordinated aerial campaign targeting alleged militant infrastructure inside Pakistan.
“When you operate combat aircraft, you are carrying out a mission. The success of the mission is not having zero losses; it’s having achieved its objectives,” Trappier said. “When the truth comes out, some people may be surprised.”
His remarks echo the position of India’s top military leadership. Earlier this month, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan rejected Islamabad’s claims that six Indian aircraft were downed during the operation. Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Chauhan told Bloomberg TV that the information was “absolutely incorrect.”
“What is important is not whether the jet was downed, but why it was downed,” he said, noting that India had swiftly rectified tactical missteps and resumed operations within two days.
General Chauhan emphasized that Indian forces achieved long-range precision strikes deep into Pakistani territory and highlighted the perceived ineffectiveness of Pakistan’s imported military systems.
Despite the scale and intensity of the exchange, Chauhan downplayed concerns of nuclear brinkmanship, describing such fears as “far-fetched.” He added that communication channels between the two sides remained functional throughout the hostilities.
India and Pakistan have fought several wars since their independence in 1947 and frequently exchange fire along the Line of Control. The recent confrontation was one of the most serious escalations in years, though both sides have so far avoided full-scale war.
