New Delhi, May 16 (UNI) Former Indian Ambassador to France Jawed Ashraf has said that a “massive story” that emerges in the Western media’s coverage of the India-Pakistan hostilities is the manner in which they were targeting the French Rafale by putting out unverified stories about Pakistan downing the IAF’s Rafale fighter jets.
In an interview to The Statesman, Ashraf, who oversaw the deliveries of Rafale fighter jets to India during his stint as Ambassador in France in 2023, said:
“The massive story that emanated frankly out of the Anglo-Saxon media on the number of how Pakistan air force routed the Indian Air Force, without actually waiting for the facts to come out.
“Remember, this is a narrative they have put out; and I have seen how much this has gained traction in the Anglo-Saxon, particularly the US and the British, media.
“My take on this is that a lot of this has to do with commercial interests.
“They were particularly targeting one aircraft, and that is because they see an international competition from that aircraft for different markets,” he said, alluding to India’s purchase of Rafale fighter jets.
In a post on X, the former ambassador said: “I was not commenting on the battle, operations or any aircraft, but on the narrative in the West. Just that initial coverage was mainly on this aspect not on strikes on terror hubs.”
On April 28 India approved the purchase of 26 Rafale fighter jets from France for the Indian Navy, in a move aimed at strengthening its naval presence in the Indian Ocean.
As part of the deal worth Rs 630 billion ($7.4 billion), India will buy 22 single-seater and four twin-seater Rafales, made by France’s Dassault Aviation. The delivery of the aircraft is to be completed by 2030
The package also covers weapons, simulators, crew training, and a five-year performance-based logistics support programme, alongside technology transfers to support India’s push for defence self-reliance.
India selected the Rafale M, over the US-made F/A-18 Super Hornet, after extensive trials in 2022.
The 26 Rafales for the Indian Navy come nearly a decade after India purchased 36 Rafales, delivered between 2020 and 2022, as part of a deal signed between the Indian government and Dassault.
India has chosen the French Rafale over US aviation giants Lockheed Martin and Boeing which had also aggressively bid for their fighter jets—the F-16 and the F/A-18, respectively—for being inducted into the Indian military.
Swedish manufacturer Saab had also bid strongly for its Gripen fighter jet to be selected by the IAF as part of its 114 Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) acquisition programme.
Manufactured by Dassault Aviation, the Rafale is a multirole fighter capable of air defence, reconnaissance and strike missions. It also forms part of France’s nuclear deterrent capability.
The French Navy has operated carrier-based Rafales since 2004. France’s military currently operates 165 Rafales, including 41 carrier variants.
Since 2015, the Rafale has become a major export success for France, with 285 aircraft sold to countries including Qatar, Egypt, Greece, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia and Croatia.
The Pakistani media had run stories of their air force downing at least three Rafale jets of the Indian Air Force, which India has neither confirmed or denied, except to say that all its fighter pilots are back safe.
