Pak claim of downing Rafales incorrect: Dassault CEO

Pakistan's claims of downing three Indian Air Force (IAF) Rafale combat aircraft in an aerial engagement during the May 7 strike on terror targets inside Pakistan under Operation Sindoor are incorrect, Éric Trappier, chief executive officer (CEO) of France's Dassault Aviation, the original equipment manufacturer of Rafale, has said.

- BHASWAR KUMAR

Acknowledging that he was not exactly aware about the alleged combat losses during Operation Sindoor—given that New Delhi has not communicated anything on the matter—Trappier said in a French-language interview: "What we do know is that the claims made by the Pakistanis (three Rafales destroyed) are incorrect." He added: "We will see whether there were losses or not, and whether the war aims were achieved. When the truth comes out, some may well be surprised."

Speaking last week to French magazine Challenges, ahead of the Paris Air Show, the Dassault Aviation CEO also asserted that combat aircraft are used to carry out a military mission, where success is defined by achieving objectives, not by having zero losses.

"During World War-II, no one claimed the Allies lost the war because they suffered troop losses." Trappier was responding to a question on whether the alleged loss of at least one Rafale during the aerial clash with Pakistan in early May indicated that the French-designed jet had reached its limits.