Eric Trappier, Chairman and CEO of French aerospace firm Dassault Aviation, which manufactures the 4.5-generation Rafale fighter jet, has for the first time commented on the reported loss of a Rafale fighter aircraft by the Indian Air Force (IAF) during Operation Sindoor.
In an interview with a French publication, Eric Trappier said that the Indian establishment had not provided any communication, so the exact circumstances remain unclear. However,Trappier said that is certain is that Pakistan’s claim of downing three Rafale jets is inaccurate.
"In combat aviation, the success of a mission isn't solely measured by the absence of losses, but by the achievement of objectives. Drawing a parallel with World War II, it wasn't said the Allies lost the war because they suffered casualties—what mattered was the outcome," Trappier said.
"Whether there were losses or not and whether the mission goals were met will become clear in time, and some may be surprised by the truth," Trappier added.
Speaking on the Rafale’s capabilities, Dassault Aviation CEO Eric Trappier acknowledged that while it's difficult to claim superiority in absolute terms, he believes Rafale offers the best in many ways. While it may face challenges in direct confrontation with an F-22, Rafale stands out as a multi-role aircraft capable of air-to-air combat, reconnaissance, air-to-ground strikes, nuclear missions, and carrier operations.
In his view, this versatility makes the Rafale the best combat aircraft in the world—superior to the F-35 and significantly better than all Chinese alternatives—ideally suited to the requirements of the French military and its global customers.
In response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, India launched retaliatory airstrikes under ‘Operation Sindoor,’ targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif claimed that its forces had shot down five Indian aircraft—three Rafale jets, one Su-30, and one MiG-29—and captured several Indian soldiers, though he did not provide exact figures.
With Agency Inputs
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