BRUSSELS (Dunya News) – A French naval commander has acknowledged that Pakistan successfully downed Indian Rafale fighter jets during the recent conflict in May 2025.
This marks the latest acknowledgment from an international source after US President Donald Trump and the US Congress also confirmed the event.
Captain Jacques Launay, commander of the Naval Air Base at Landivisiau, told delegates at an international Indo-Pacific conference.
He stated that the failure was not due to any fault in the Rafale jets themselves, but rather the Indian pilots operating them.
The French base is known for housing a squadron of Rafale jets equipped with over 40 nuclear-capable missiles, and Captain Launay has over 25 years of experience flying these jets, participating in numerous missions across the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.
During his address at the Indo-Pacific Conference, the French commander praised Pakistan's air defense capabilities, stating that the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) handled the situation in a highly effective manner.
He explained that the Indian Rafale jets did not crash due to the technical superiority of Chinese aircraft, but because of Pakistan’s strong defense and strategic planning.
He emphasized that the combat was highly complex, involving over 140 fighter jets, and Pakistan had outperformed India in handling the situation.
When questioned about the failure of the Rafale’s radar system during the conflict, Captain Launay clarified that the issue was not with the machines themselves but with their usage. He stated that Rafales could defeat Chinese jets in any combat scenario, provided the systems were used correctly.
He also revealed that the Indian government is now interested in purchasing the naval version of the Rafale, capable of landing on aircraft carriers at sea. These naval Rafales are also equipped to carry nuclear missiles, a unique capability currently held only by the French Navy.
Experts suggest that the detailed analysis of the aerial conflict between Pakistan and India has attracted global attention, offering valuable insights into military strategy for future conflicts, particularly in terms of the performance of pilots, fighter jets, and air-to-air missiles in real combat scenarios.