Former French Navy pilot Pierre-Henri Chuet, who gained notoriety for making controversial claims against the Indian Air Force's Rafale fighter jets, is currently embroiled in a major national security investigation in France. Authorities have accused the former aviator of leaking classified military secrets to China and training Chinese military pilots in sensitive carrier operations. While Chuet maintains his innocence and denies disclosing any confidential defense data to foreign nations, French intelligence agencies have launched a formal judicial probe into his activities.
Unraveling the Anti-India Propaganda During Operation Sindoor
Pierre-Henri Chuet attracted widespread attention in May 2025 during Operation Sindoor when he publicly questioned the combat capabilities of the Indian Air Force's Rafale fleet. At the time, he claimed that Pakistan's Chinese-supplied J-10C fighter jet had successfully shot down a Rafale. He actively promoted Chinese military hardware, labeling the J-10C and JF-17 as formidable aircraft capable of defeating Western platforms. However, both the Indian defense establishment and French manufacturer Dassault Aviation promptly debunked his assertions as completely baseless and false.
French Intelligence Interrogation and Espionage Allegations
In July 2026, France's internal intelligence agency, the Directorate-General for Internal Security (DGSI), took Chuet into custody for extensive questioning and executed a search warrant at his residence. Investigators lodged serious charges against him, including the unauthorized sharing of sensitive national defense secrets and assisting a foreign power. Following initial hearings, a French court placed him under formal judicial investigation while releasing him from custody. Under the French legal system, the probe remains ongoing, and he has not been convicted of any crime.
Undisclosed Trips to China and Carrier Pilot Training
Investigative disclosures reveal that Chuet made two unauthorized trips to China in 2018 and 2019 while actively serving in the French Navy. Military protocols strictly require officers to report all foreign travel to their superiors, a rule Chuet allegedly violated. Reports indicate that a South African aviation company financed these visits. During his stay in China, he allegedly provided specialized instruction to Chinese military aviators, focusing on critical carrier-based flight operations such as catapult launches and arrested landings, while potentially exposing Western naval tactical strategies.
Military Background and Transition to Civilian Life
During his active career with the French Navy, Pierre-Henri Chuet operated Super Étendard and Rafale M strike fighters deployed aboard the flagship aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle. He eventually retired from military duty after suffering a stroke. Holding dual citizenship in France and Canada, Chuet currently works as a commercial airline pilot, author, corporate speaker, and aviation content creator on YouTube. He continues to firmly reject all espionage allegations, asserting that he has never compromised state security or transferred confidential defense secrets to any foreign government.
