A French Dassault Rafale "downed" a U.S. F-35 in a simulated close-range dogfight during the Atlantic Trident 25 joint military exercises in Finland, generating online debate.
Security analysts note that the F-35's main advantage is beyond visual range combat, and close-range dogfights are increasingly rare in modern warfare, where stealth is prioritized.
France is using this simulated victory to promote the Rafale as a domestically-produced, pan-European alternative to U.S.-made military platforms like the F-35, and reduce European reliance on them.
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.
