Beijing’s Disinformation Campaign Targeted Rafale Jets to Promote Chinese Fighter Planes: French Intel Reveals

 

By ANN News Desk | July 7, 2025 | Paris/Beijing/New Delhi

 

 

In a stunning revelation, French military and intelligence officials have accused China of orchestrating a global disinformation campaign aimed at damaging the reputation of Dassault’s Rafale fighter jets. The campaign, launched through Chinese embassies and media outlets, allegedly sought to undermine confidence in the French aircraft following their deployment in the India-Pakistan military standoff in May 2025.

 

 

 

 

The goal? Boosting international sales of Chinese-made fighter aircraft, notably the JF-17 Thunder and the Chengdu J-10C, which Beijing aggressively markets across Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

 

 

 

 

 

French defense sources told ANN News that Beijing’s campaign kicked off shortly after India’s IAF deployed Rafale jets in live operations along the Line of Control (LoC) during heightened tensions with Pakistan in May 2025. While the Rafales reportedly performed with precision and dominance, Chinese diplomatic and media networks began pushing narratives suggesting the jets underperformed or suffered from technical glitches.

“This was a well-coordinated campaign involving social media bots, fake defense analysts, and even diplomatic channels. The aim was clear—damage the Rafale’s global reputation and question its combat capabilities,” said a senior French military official speaking on condition of anonymity.

 

Fake Leaks on Social Media: Several X (formerly Twitter) handles, traced back to China-linked troll farms, began circulating fabricated reports claiming Indian pilots were dissatisfied with Rafale’s avionics and targeting systems. These posts were often shared by Chinese state-affiliated media outlets, giving them a false sense of credibility. Anonymous Blogs & Forums: Defense blogs in South Asia began publishing unverified stories suggesting “friendly fire incidents” and “engine failures” involving Rafale jets—none of which were backed by official Indian reports. Embassy Briefings: French authorities claim Chinese embassies in African and Middle Eastern countries subtly raised questions about the Rafale’s May 2025 performance during private briefings with defense procurement officials.

 

Defense analysts believe the campaign was part of Beijing’s effort to position the JF-17 Thunder and Chengdu J-10C as cheaper and “battle-proven” alternatives to Western jets like the Rafale and the American F-16.

Recently, China has actively pitched the JF-17 Block III to nations like Argentina, Nigeria, Egypt, and Bangladesh, often highlighting the “cost inefficiency” and “logistical complexity” of Western aircraft.

“The goal is not just to sell planes but to reshape the global arms market. China sees the Rafale as a threat, especially in countries where India has diplomatic influence,” says Dr. Pierre Lemaitre, a Paris-based defense economist.

 

 

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has strongly refuted any claims of underperformance. Senior IAF officials confirmed that the Rafale jets carried out multiple precision strike missions, demonstrated unmatched electronic warfare capabilities, and faced no technical issues.

 

 

 

“The Rafales are force multipliers. Any attempt to discredit them is purely propaganda,” said an IAF Group Captain involved in the May operations.

 

Not the First Time: A Pattern of Chinese Information Warfare

This isn’t China’s first brush with defense disinformation:

• In 2021, Beijing ran anti-S-400 campaigns in Southeast Asia, attempting to dissuade nations from purchasing Russian air defense systems.
• In 2023, reports emerged of false narratives about Turkish Bayraktar drones being less effective than Chinese CH-4 UAVs.

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The French defense ministry has now ordered its cyber and diplomatic units to counter false narratives and protect the image of its defense exports. Dassault Aviation, the Rafale’s manufacturer, has also launched a global PR campaign featuring Indian pilot testimonials and technical performance reports.

“We will not allow misinformation to derail our global defense partnerships,” a French Defense Ministry statement said.

 

 

As great power competition intensifies, the battlefield is no longer just land, sea, or air—but also the domain of information and perception. With billions of dollars in defense deals at stake, disinformation has become a weapon of choice.

For now, the Rafale remains one of the world’s most respected multi-role combat aircraft—but in today’s hybrid warfare era, even a jet can be targeted by a digital missile.