French Ex-Pilot Under Investigation for Alleged Espionage After Claiming Indian Rafale Losses and Praising Chinese Jets
A former pilot of the French Navy and a notable aviation YouTuber has come under formal investigation in France amid allegations of engaging in intelligence activities that benefited China. The individual, who publicly accused the Indian Air Force of losing at least one Rafale fighter jet to Chinese-origin warplanes during the May 2025 India-Pakistan conflict, had also commended the performance of Pakistan’s J-10C and JF-17 jets.
Pierre-Henri Chuet, who holds dual French-Canadian nationality and is known online as “Até Chuet,” was interrogated by France's domestic intelligence agency, the Direction Générale de la Sécurité Intérieure (DGSI), in the week beginning 20 July 2026. Following a search of his residence, Chuet was brought before an investigating magistrate in Paris and placed under formal investigation (mise en examen) on four charges: revealing national defence secrets by an entrusted individual, intelligence involvement with a foreign power, gathering information related to national interests, and transferring information to a foreign power. He has been released under judicial oversight. In French legal terms, the status indicates there is serious or corroborating evidence for a formal inquiry but does not constitute a conviction or a decision for trial. Chuet remains presumed innocent.
Chuet served with the French Navy’s naval aviation wing until approximately 2021. Flying the Super Étendard strike fighters and later the Rafale M multirole fighter from the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, he amassed around 200 carrier landings and participated in an exchange program with the US Navy, specializing in CATOBAR operations—a rare expertise beyond the US Navy. After a medical discharge due to a stroke, he transitioned to commercial aviation, trained with Air Canada on Boeing 737s, authored books, engaged in corporate speaking, and amassed over 560,000 YouTube subscribers focusing on military aviation analysis.
Following the four-day conflict in May 2025 between India and Pakistan, known as Operation Sindoor, Chuet gained significant attention in India. Initiated by India on 7 May 2025 in response to the 22 April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack, the operation involved missile, drone, and precision strikes on terrorist targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
In a YouTube video dated 10 May 2025, titled approximately “Un Rafale indien perdu face au Pakistan ? Analyse d’un pilote de chasse,” Chuet confidently suggested the Indian Air Force had lost at least one Rafale jet due to a Pakistan Air Force Chengdu J-10C fighter firing a PL-15 missile. In subsequent videos, he praised the Chinese-origin J-10C and JF-17 fighters and the PL-15 missile, presenting them as highly effective against the Rafale.
These assertions mirrored Pakistani claims during and after the conflict. Pakistan alleged multiple Indian aircraft were downed, including up to four Rafales, a MiG-29, a Su-30MKI, and an Israeli-made Heron UAV, mostly by No. 15 Squadron’s J-10C fighters. Independent assessments and Western reports, including statements from French Air Force officials, suggested India did lose aircraft, with at least one Rafale among them (alongside a Mirage 2000 and possibly a Sukhoi or MiG). India acknowledged some aircraft losses but denied that any Rafales were among them. Dassault Aviation CEO Eric Trappier dismissed Pakistani claims of Rafale shoot-downs. Subsequent Indian Air Force documents, including a June 2026 Request for Proposal for support of all 36 Rafales in service, were cited by Indian sources as evidence that the entire fleet remained intact.
The investigation focuses on undisclosed trips Chuet made to China in September 2018 and August 2019 while he was still with the French Navy. He failed to inform his superiors as required by French military regulations. These trips were organized and funded by the South African aviation company, the Test Flying Academy of South Africa (TFASA), scrutinized for assisting Western pilots in training Chinese military aviators.
French media, including Le Canard Enchaîné and Mediapart, reported that these seminars covered carrier landing technologies, comprehensive aircraft carrier operations, naval aviator training, and aspects of recent Western military operations. Chuet's specialized CATOBAR experience on Charles de Gaulle was particularly valuable to the People’s Liberation Army Navy, which is enhancing its capabilities with three carriers and a fourth under construction, including the catapult-equipped Fujian.
The French Ministry of the Armed Forces referred the case to authorities on 19 February 2025 concerning a former serviceman suspected of intelligence activities with a foreign power. The investigation advanced through preliminary stages before the current formal proceedings.
Chuet has denied any wrongdoing. In statements to Le Canard Enchaîné, he claimed only to have conducted two three-day seminars, with the 2019 trip not going well, after which he did not return to China.
The case unfolds amidst French intelligence assessments accusing China of using its diplomatic network to cast doubt on the Rafale’s combat performance post-Operation Sindoor. The alleged disinformation campaign aimed to hinder further Rafale sales and promote Chinese alternatives, claims Beijing has termed "groundless rumours and slander."
This situation aligns with broader Western concerns. In June 2024, the Five Eyes intelligence partners issued a warning about China’s systematic recruitment of current and former Western military pilots for acquiring tactical knowledge. Similar incidents have involved personnel from the US, UK, Spain, and Australia.
Chuet’s dual role as a commentator critical of the Rafale’s Indian service performance, and his undeclared involvement with Chinese military training programs, has stirred discussions in French and Indian defence circles. The investigation continues under an investigating judge with no set trial date, and no conviction has been made.
These developments highlight the sensitivities surrounding the Rafale’s combat reputation—France’s premier fighter, of which India operates 36 units with potential further orders—and the ongoing competition for technological and narrative sway in the Indo-Pacific and global defence markets.
