A French Dassault Rafale achieved a simulated "kill" against a U.S. F-35 during the Atlantic Trident 25 joint military exercises in June.
Security analysts highlighted that the simulated dogfight occurred at close range, a scenario less common in modern warfare where the F-35's stealth and beyond-visual-range capabilities are primary advantages.
France is using this simulated victory to lobby European countries to reduce their reliance on U.S.-made military platforms and promote the domestically produced Rafale as a pan-European alternative.
A French Dassault Rafale “downed” an F-35 in a recent simulated dogfight, stoking debate online about how the two fighter jets stack up.
Footage shared by the French Air and Space Force on X shows a Rafale pilot locking in on an F-35, followed by an audio command instructing the pilot to “take the shot,” indicating a simulated missile firing.
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Zach Vasile is a writer and editor covering news in all aspects of aviation. He has reported for and contributed to the Manchester Journal Inquirer, the Hartford Business Journal, the Charlotte Observer, and the Washington Examiner, with his area of focus being the intersection of business and government policy.
