Tensions Mount Between India and France Over Rafale Jet Performance: US Report
A recent publication by the American journal The National Interest has shed light on rising discord between India and France regarding the effectiveness of the French-made Rafale fighter jets in operational scenarios involving Pakistan.
The article reports that Indian authorities are growing increasingly skeptical about the Rafale’s performance during a high-stakes confrontation with Pakistan. In contrast, France—through Dassault Aviation, the manufacturer—has dismissed such concerns, suggesting any failures stemmed from operational handling or pilot mistakes rather than from the aircraft itself.
Under the headline “India and France Are At Each Other’s Throats Over the Dassault Rafale Fighter,” the report outlines that France is firmly pushing back against New Delhi’s criticism. Dassault, the report claims, believes that the problems may lie in the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) maintenance protocols or mismanagement by flight crews, not in the design or technical capabilities of the Rafale jets.
Dassault has reportedly requested to carry out an independent inspection of the Rafale fleet currently deployed by the IAF to ensure no internal technical faults exist. However, Indian authorities have allegedly declined this request, further complicating the situation. The refusal has led to speculation that India fears the audit may be used to redirect blame away from the aircraft and toward IAF personnel.
Adding to the strain is the issue of software transparency. Despite continued diplomatic efforts from India, France has not agreed to provide access to the Rafale’s source code, a move that Indian officials believe is essential for full operational control. According to the report, Indian defense analysts suspect that this refusal is part of an attempt to obscure deeper technical flaws in the aircraft.
However, not everyone agrees that the aircraft is at fault. Some military experts argue that the problems might not be rooted in the jets themselves. They point instead to possible shortcomings in IAF training programs and systemic maintenance lapses that may have compromised performance during critical operations.
In a related development, the report notes that the Rafale’s perceived underperformance has caught international attention. Indonesia, which recently inked a purchase agreement with Dassault for Rafale fighters, has reportedly launched its own internal review of the deal following concerns raised by India’s experience.
Meanwhile, Dassault’s market reputation has taken a hit. Shares in the French aerospace giant have reportedly declined, while China’s Chengdu Aerospace Corporation—maker of the J-10 fighter—has seen a notable uptick in investor interest amid the unfolding controversy.
