French Navy Refutes Pakistan's Rafale Claims
In a strong rebuke, the French Navy has publicly refuted claims made by a Pakistan-based media outlet regarding the performance of Indian Rafale fighter jets during recent military tensions. The controversy stems from a report published by Geo TV on November 21, 2025, which alleged that a French naval commander had confirmed Pakistan's air superiority and the downing of Indian Rafale jets during a border confrontation in May, related to India's Operation Sindoor. Operation Sindoor was reportedly launched by India targeting Pakistan-sponsored terrorist sites after the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir in April, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians.
The French Navy, in a statement released on its official X account, vehemently denied the assertions, branding the report as "extensive misinformation and disinformation". The Navy clarified that the remarks were falsely attributed to Captain Yvan Launay, the commander of the Landivisiau Naval Air Station, the main operational base for French Rafale Marine aircraft. The French Navy emphasized that Captain Launay never authorized or made any such statements. Furthermore, the Navy pointed out that the Pakistani outlet misidentified the officer, referring to him as "Jacques Launay".
According to the French Navy, Captain Launay's responsibilities are limited to commanding the naval air station where the French Rafale Marine aircraft are stationed. At a recent Indo-Pacific conference, Captain Launay's presentation was technical, focusing on carrier operations, Rafale Marine mission profiles, and challenges in high-intensity air warfare. The French Navy clarified that he neither confirmed nor denied that Indian aircrafts had been shot down during Operation Sindoor, and he refused to comment on possible jamming of the Indian Rafale by Chinese systems. The Navy also stated that Captain Launay never mentioned the Chinese J-10 fighter.
The Geo TV article had also claimed that Captain Launay said the Pakistan Air Force performed "much better" during the May 6-7 confrontation. It further alleged that he confirmed Indian Rafales were shot down and linked the outcome to Chinese support. The French Navy has refuted these claims.
The French Navy's strong denial and clarification highlight the dangers of misinformation and disinformation, especially in sensitive geopolitical contexts. Some defence analysts suggest that the incident is part of an ongoing effort to target India's advanced weapon systems, particularly the Rafale, to influence public perception rather than reflect actual battlefield realities. China may have initiated a disinformation campaign to prevent sales of French Rafale aircraft in favour of its own J-35s, using fake social media profiles to propagate AI images of supposed 'debris' from the planes that China's weaponry destroyed.
The incident has drawn widespread condemnation, with social media users and analysts criticizing the Pakistani media outlet for spreading false narratives. It also puts a spotlight on the importance of verifying information and relying on credible sources, especially in an era where disinformation can spread rapidly through social media and online platforms.
