Chinese Diplomats Spreading Doubts About Rafale Fighter After Indo-Pak Aerial Engagement

Chinese embassies contacted potential Rafale customers to spread doubts about the performance of French-made jets following the aerial between India and Pakistan in May.

This was revealed by French military and intelligence officials to the Associated Press(AP) who have implicated Beijing in an effort to tarnish the reputation and sales of France’s Rafale jets that has notched up hundreds of orders in the Middle East, Asia and Europe.

Pakistan has claimed to have downed 2 Rafale jets by PL-15 missiles fired by its China-made J-10CE fighter. While Indian officials have admitted to combat losses, they have not identified the aircraft involved.

Findings from a French intelligence service report, shared with AP  say defense attaches in China’s foreign embassies are seeking to persuade countries that have already ordered the French-made fighter — notably Indonesia — not to buy more and to encourage other potential buyers to choose Chinese-made planes.

Indonesian MoD confirmed in June that Chinese officials made an offer to sell the J-10CE aircraft while being aware that Jakarta had already sealed a deal with Paris to buy the Rafale jets

While publicly China has appealed for calm between Islamabad and new Delhi, its leading defense firm, the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) has been busy at air shows - particularly the LIMA event in Malaysia and the Paris Airshow - to put forth the advantages of the J-10CE over the Dassault Rafale Jet.

The  cost of the J-10CE is said to be 40% below the cost of a Rafale Jet which is a huge advantage for some countries in the Middle East, Asia and Africa with limited military budgets.