‘Inaccurate’: Dassault Aviation CEO Eric Trappier Refutes Pakistan’s Claim of Downing Indian Rafales During Operation Sindoor

New Delhi: Dassault Aviation CEO Eric Trappier on Saturday termed Pakistan’s claims that it shot down India’s Rafale fighter jet during Operation Sindoor as “inaccurate.” In an interview with a French magazine ahead of the Paris Airshow, Trappier defended Rafale’s combat record.

“The Indians did not communicate, so we do not know exactly what happened. What we already know is that the words of the Pakistanis (three destroyed Rafales) are inaccurate,” the Dassault Aviation CEO told the magazine when asked about Rafale’s potential loss.

Notably, questions were raised on Rafale’s combat capabilities after Pakistan’s claims. Refuting these allegations, Trappier said that combat missions are measured by the effectiveness with which objectives are achieved and not just by the absence of losses. “We will see if there were losses or not, and if the war goals were achieved. When the truth comes out, some may have surprises,” Trappier said.

Also Read: India’s Operation Sindoor: How Unprecedented Airstrikes Using ‘Dummy’ Aircraft, Brahmos Missiles Crippled 11 Pakistan’s Air Bases

Notably, Operation Sindoor was India’s first aerial combat mission involving the Rafale jet. To play down India’s tactical achievement in the operation, Islamabad started claiming that it shot down six Indian fighter jets, including three Rafales, one Su-30MKI, and one MiG-29, on the intervening night of May 6 and 7. However, Pakistan failed to provide any evidence to back its claims.

In retaliation to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack which claimed the lives of 26 innocent people, India carried out precision strikes under Operation Sindoor on nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) on the intervening night of May 6 and 7.

In response, Pakistan, in a failed attempt, tried to target civilian and military installations in India on the intervening night of May 7 and 8. However, India’s air defence thwarted Pakistan’s drone and missile attack. On the night of May 9, India targeted several Pakistani airbases, including Nur Khan near Rawalpindi and Rahim Yar Khan.

However, on May 10, Pakistan’s DGMO contacted his Indian counterpart for a ceasefire.