French Rafale “shoots down” US F-35 during NATO Atlantic Trident 2025

Rafale and F-35 in simulated close-range combat

During a simulated aerial engagement in Finland as part of NATO Exercise Atlantic Trident 2025, a French Air and Space Force Rafale fighter “shot down” a US F-35 stealth aircraft. The symbolic victory for Dassault’s fighter came during manoeuvres designed to reproduce a short-range duel with Lockheed Martin’s fifth-generation aircraft. It also offered a boost to the aircraft after its reputation was damaged by its involvement in Operation Sindoor, conducted by India against Pakistan.

The news was later confirmed in a French Air and Space Force social media post, drawing the attention of aviation enthusiasts and analysts who were surprised by the Rafale’s victory over the F-35, an aircraft which appears, at first sight, to possess superior capabilities. Exercises of this kind are highly useful for assessing the strengths and shortcomings of each aircraft type under realistic conditions, as well as the differing design and combat philosophies employed by each side.

This is particularly significant because the French aircraft was specifically designed to excel as one of today’s most manoeuvrable fighters, a characteristic that proved especially valuable in securing the result of the engagement described above. The F-35, meanwhile, relies more heavily on stealth capabilities that make it harder for an opponent to detect at long range. This gives it an advantage when using beyond-visual-range, or BVR, air-to-air missiles to eliminate threats without placing the fighter itself in danger. For several analysts, the event therefore highlights how complementary the two platforms could be if operating together within NATO, although it did not prevent French enthusiasts from celebrating the shoot-down.

Demonstrating its close-combat abilities, the Rafale was also reported to have achieved at least two further simulated kills against an F-18 fighter from the Finnish Air Force. That aircraft also took part in its own mock engagements after the encounter involving the F-35. Overall, the exercise was a success for the detachment of six French Rafales deployed from Mont-de-Marsan Air Base, together with 270 personnel providing logistical and maintenance support.

Atlantic Trident 2025 brings together four nations

Atlantic Trident 2025 took place from 16 to 27 June. It was a joint exercise involving Finland, which hosted the event for the first time, alongside France, the United States and the United Kingdom. Its principal aim was to develop concepts for Agile Combat Employment, or ACE, while also supporting integration between fourth- and fifth-generation platforms.

In addition to the aircraft already mentioned, the exercise included US F-15E Strike Eagle fighters and British Eurofighter Typhoons. These were supported by A330 MRTT and KC-135 Stratotanker refuelling aircraft, A400M transport aircraft and E-3F early-warning aircraft. In total, the activity brought together more than 40 aircraft and almost 1,000 personnel from the four countries. Draken International also provided services for the event, acting as one of the exercise’s aggressors.

Cover image: US Air Force