DUBAI: The senior French naval commander has confirmed that Indian Rafale fighter jets failed to achieve their objectives during an aerial confrontation with Pakistan in early May, echoing earlier assessments from the United States.
The clashes on 6 and 7 May were closely monitored by armed forces around the world. The encounter was seen as a rare opportunity to assess modern fighter jets, pilot training standards, and the effectiveness of integrated air-defence networks in a real-time, high-pressure environment.
Furthermore, the Captain Yook Lone, commander of a naval air base in northwestern France, said the Rafale aircraft itself was not at fault. Instead, he attributed the setback to limitations in the operational handling of the jets by the Indian pilots.
The Captain Lone oversees a strategic base that houses a nuclear-capable Rafale squadron, multiple combat aircraft, submarines, and advanced naval aviation assets.
In this regard, with 25 years of experience flying Rafale jets, he noted that the Pakistan Air Force managed the situation with “high discipline and effective coordination.”
In this sense, the captain Lone clarified that the Indian Rafale jets were not overwhelmed by Chinese military technology, as some observers had speculated. Rather, he said, Pakistan’s planning, strong defensive posture, and timely responses played the decisive role.
He added that more than 140 combat aircraft were airborne that night, creating a complex operational picture. Despite the intensity, he observed that Pakistan handled the engagement more cohesively than India.
Captain Lone reasserted that Rafale’s radar and electronic systems did not fail; the core issue stemmed from how the systems were operated. He stressed that the Rafale platform remains capable of outperforming Chinese fighter jets, provided it is flown by well-trained and decisive operators.
He also noted India’s growing interest in acquiring the naval variant of the Rafale, which is capable of aircraft-carrier landings and can carry nuclear weapons capabilities currently limited to the French Navy.
