New global reports regarding India’s humiliation in May’s clashes continue to surface as after a United States (US) Congress report that declared Pakistan successful, a French naval commander has confirmed that the country shot down Indian Rafale jets on the night of May 6-7.

 

Armed forces around the world closely monitored the rare aerial engagement between Pakistan and India in May – the largest air battle since World War II. The intense battle gave several militaries a rare chance to assess pilots, fighter jets and missile performance in real combat.

 

Amid a series of embarrassing episodes for the Indian military, Captain Jaquis Launay, the commander of a naval air base in northwestern France, has set the record straight in face of Indian denial over the heavy losses the country suffered in Pakistan’s retaliatory action.

 

The French base under Capt Launay’s command is known for its Rafale squadrons armed with more than 40 nuclear-capable missiles. He also oversees 94 naval warships, 10 nuclear submarines and 190 fighter aircraft.

 

The French commander has flown Rafale jets for 25 years and has completed major missions across the Middle East, Africa and Europe. 

 

Addressing 55 delegates from 32 countries at the Indo-Pacific conference organised by the Institute of Advanced Studies in National Defence (IHEDN) in collaboration with the Directorate of the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, Capt Launay said the Indian Rafale jets did not fall due to Chinese technological superiority, and praised Pakistan’s performance.

 

“The Pakistan Air Force handled the situation with remarkable effectiveness,” he said, adding that the losses India suffered were caused by Pakistan’s strong defence and smart strategy.

 

He explained that more than 140 fighter jets took part in the battle, which created a very complex environment. With so many targets in the sky, he said hitting any aircraft became relatively easy, but “Pakistan managed the situation far better than India.”

 

A representative from India tried to interrupt and called the statements “Chinese propaganda”, but Launay ignored the objection.

 

When asked why the Rafale radar system failed during the clash, Launay replied, “The issue was not with the machine. The issue was with how it was used.”

 

He said the Rafale can outperform Chinese fighter jets in any battle, but everything depends on how the aircraft is flown.

 

The French commander also revealed that the Indian government now wants to buy the naval version of the Rafale, which can land on aircraft carriers.  He said this variant can carry nuclear missiles, and only the French Navy currently uses this capability.