Dassault Aviation CEO Eric Trappier has categorically refuted Pakistan’s assertion that India lost any Rafale fighter planes during the recent skirmish in early May. When speaking with French publication Challenges, Trappier termed Islamabad’s claim as ‘inaccurate’ and went on to say that the complete truth is yet to be discovered.

Talking about the alleged shooting down of three Rafale aircraft during the May 7-10 fighting between Indian and Pakistani militaries, Trappier stated, “The Indians haven’t spoken to us, so we don’t know precisely what occurred. What we do know is that what the Pakistanis are reporting is not true.

He pointed out the more general objectives of combat operations, adding that victory must not be measured simply by the fact that there are no losses. “When you fly combat aircraft, you are executing a mission. The success of the mission is not zero losses, it’s having accomplished its mission,” he explained.

Drawing a comparison with World War II, Trappier added, “During the Second World War, it wasn’t said that the Allies had lost the war because they had lost troops.”

He also suggested that future disclosures might change the current narrative. “We’ll see if there were losses, and if the war aims were achieved. When the truth comes out, some people may be surprised.”

India Maintains Silence on Jet Losses

Islamabad had previously asserted that it had shot down six Indian aircraft amid cross-border tensions following India’s Operation Sindoor, which hit terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir after a deadly attack in Pahalgam killed 26 civilians.

India has as yet not released a formal report on losses of aircraft. But on May 11, Director General Air Operations Air Marshal AK Bharti replied to a similar query by citing the dynamics of combat, “We are in a combat situation; losses are part of combat,” he told reporters. Bharti underscored the purpose of the operation, saying, “The question you have to ask yourself is whether we have killed our aim of destroying the terror camps. The answer is a thumping yes.”

Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan spoke similarly at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. Though he attested to some Indian planes being shot down during the initial conflict, he did not confirm the number or if any Rafales were included. He also refuted Pakistan’s claims as ‘absolutely incorrect’.

World’s Best Aircraft

Trappier supported the global reputation of the Rafale jet. “I believe that the Rafale is actually the best aircraft in the world, superior to the F-35 and far superior to all of the Chinese aircraft available in the market,” he declared.

Though conceding that planes such as the F-22 may provide stiff competition in certain situations, he insisted on the versatility of Rafale: “It’s always difficult to claim that we’re the best in absolute terms, but I genuinely believe that we’re the best compromise…Imagine you need to have one aircraft for air-to-air missions, reconnaissance, air-to-ground strikes, nuclear missions and being able to take off from an aircraft carrier. In that scenario, I believe that the Rafale is actually the world’s best aircraft.”