New Delhi/Paris: India's Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar is going to Paris next week. According to reports, during this time he will talk to France about the propaganda spread by China and Pakistan on the Rafale fighter aircraft. The purpose of Jaishankar's Paris visit is to ensure that no country has any doubt about the friendship between India and France. In particular, it is also important to dispel the rumours being spread by China-backed media and anti-Rafale about the quality of France's Rafale fighter jets. Pakistan and China have recently run an organized campaign to spread the narrative that India's Rafale fighter jets, which have been purchased from France, have proved helpless in front of China-Pakistan.
Pakistan claims that it has shot down Rafales during the conflict with India last month, while India has said that its planes have been shot down, but this is not true. It has not been said which plane has been shot down. While Pakistan and China are spreading propaganda that Rafale has been shot down by a combination of J-10C fighter jet and PL-15 missile. Pakistan's propaganda has got the support of some western countries because these countries are angry that India had rejected Eurofighter and chosen Rafale. America is angry about the fact that India had chosen Rafale instead of F-21 fighter plane. Apart from this, America wants India to buy F-21 and F-35 stealth fighter, so apart from spreading mistrust on the relationship between India and France, Rafale is also being called bad.
Propaganda of fight between India and France
Propaganda is being spread in the media of China and Pakistan that there is a situation like a fight between India and France. They are saying that India has a dispute with the French aerospace company Dassault Aviation. They say that a French team wanted to inspect Rafale planes in India, but India has refused citing national security. According to Eurasian Times On June 6, a Pakistani report said, "This controversy has raised questions about the combat capability of Rafale. Also, relations between India and France may deteriorate." However, the Indian government has not made any statement regarding the loss of Rafale aircraft. Reports from Western countries had earlier said that six Indian aircraft had fallen, of which three were Rafale. But now they have backtracked from their statements. They now say that one Indian aircraft has fallen, which may be Rafale. On the other hand, Pakistan has never proved its claims.
A spokesperson of the French Defense Ministry has said in a press conference in Paris that "I think we are in a warlike situation and there is a war of information going on. We do not know exactly what has happened. Many allegations are being made, but they have not been confirmed." He further said that "The issue of Rafale is very important for us. We want to know what happened. That is why we are trying to understand the situation along with India." The spokesperson also said, "Rafale aircraft has been in use for 20 years. It has participated in war for 20 years. If it is true that one plane has been shot down, then this will be the first time that a Rafale plane has been shot down in war."
Questions have been raised about Rafale in France
According to the Eurasian Times, French MP Marc Chavent has asked the Foreign Minister a question about the loss of Rafale. He said that this could affect France's strategic and industrial interests. Chavent said, "Several sources have revealed that at least one Indian Rafale plane has been shot down by a PL-15E missile from Pakistan's J-10C aircraft. This aircraft had KLJ-10A AESA radar installed." Apart from this, Chavent has also raised questions on Rafale's security system. He said, "Rafale's Spectra electronic warfare system could not detect the attack and is France afraid that questions will be raised on Rafale's technology and its leadership in aerospace defense?" Let us tell you that the Spectra electronic warfare system installed in Rafale aircraft has the ability to detect threats, jam and save the aircraft. It protects the aircraft from radar and infrared guided missiles.
Chavent also asked the government whether the Spectra system will be changed in Rafale F5? Will it be made according to the new AESA radar and active guided missiles? He also asked whether France is considering making a Rafale EW version like America's EA-18G Growler? Will it be used to eliminate enemy air defense? Chavent said, "5th generation aircraft like China's J-20 and FC-31 can be rapidly deployed in the Indo-Pacific region. This will give China an edge in stealth, sensor fusion, electronic warfare and multi-domain interoperability." The French government has not yet responded to Chavent's questions.
There is no reason to doubt India and France
Pakistan and China may be spreading rumors, but the reality seems to be that there is no disputeNo. Rafale maker Dassault Aviation and India's Tata Advanced Systems Limited have signed an agreement on June 6. This could pave the way for manufacturing 114 multi-role fighter aircraft in India. The Indian Air Force's Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) program is worth more than $25 billion. It includes Rafale, Sweden's Gripen-E, Lockheed Martin's F-21, Boeing's F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, Eurofighter Typhoon and Russia's Sukhoi Su-35. The deal between Dassault and Tata includes four production transfer agreements. It is being described as an important step towards strengthening India's aerospace manufacturing capabilities and supporting the global supply chain.
Under this agreement, a state-of-the-art manufacturing hub will be built in Hyderabad. Where the main structural components of Rafale, such as the lateral shell of the rear fuselage, central fuselage and front section will be made. According to the Eurasian Times, it is expected that fuselage segments will start being made in this plant by 2028. Its target is to make two complete fuselages every month. However, the final assembly will be done at Dassault's plant in Bordeaux, France. This deal will help Dassault to increase production. It already has orders for about 220 Rafale aircraft. These include 164 export orders from countries like Indonesia, Serbia and UAE. Apart from this, the Indian Navy has also ordered 26 carrier-based Rafale-M jets.
Pakistan-China propaganda will fail
In such a situation, China and its 'proxy' Pakistan want to spread misinformation against Rafale to defame it in the markets of South East Asia and Middle East. China is constantly making offer after offer to sell J-10 to Malaysia. Whereas Malaysia has already made a deal to buy 42 Rafales. Therefore, China is spreading the false story that its J-10 aircraft defeated Rafale in the clashes between India and Pakistan. Through this, it wants to attract the Middle East and Indo-Pacific countries. Indonesia has signed an $8 billion deal to buy 42 Rafale aircraft from Dassault. The first aircraft under this deal is going to be delivered next year.
Therefore, S. Jaishankar's visit to France is not just a diplomatic meeting, but to regain India's military prestige and international narrative. This is an opportunity for both India and France to show that their partnership is not limited to just the purchase of weapons, but is based on strategic trust and mutual respect. This visit is going to be very important to clear the fog that is being created regarding Rafale. If India and France show transparency and strength in this, not only will their relationship deepen, but the propaganda war of Pakistan and China will also fail.
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