Taiwan is reportedly considering acquiring Rafale fighter jets to replace its aging Mirage 2000 fleet, aiming to modernize its air force and enhance the island’s air defense amid increasing tensions with China.
Meanwhile, earlier this month, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) received the delivery of its 300th J-20 fighter jet, which is fast emerging as the frontline fighter jet for the PLAAF.
The milestone was announced when a J-20 fighter jet, bearing the construction number ‘CB10300’, was displayed at the Changchun Air Show in Jilin Province.
Additionally, a leaked 800-page report, vetted and published by the Center for Defence Reforms in Kyiv and the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) in London, suggests that China is learning the lessons of Russia’s 2014 Crimea invasion, which could be replicated in a potential invasion of Taiwan.
“Based on documents obtained by hackers from the Black Moon group, experts from the Royal United Services Institute for Defense and Security Studies (RUSI) have provided a factual analysis and forecast of the danger posed by the Russian-Chinese project aimed at preparing an airborne assault by the Chinese army on Taiwan in 2027,” the hacking group Black Moon said in a post on X.
Dassault CEO Confirms Taiwan Considering Rafale
Eric Trappier, Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation, has confirmed that Taiwan is showing clear interest in acquiring the Rafale fighter jet as its fleet of Mirage 2000s nears the end of its operational life.
However, Trappier emphasized that any such decision would need to be approved by the French government.
Operationally, the acquisition of the Rafale would strengthen Taipei’s air defense and precision strike capabilities.
The decision will not be easy for Paris as Beijing vehemently opposes any Western weapons sale to Taiwan, terming it an assault on China’s sovereignty.
Given China’s rising economic heft, France would be cautious in antagonizing Beijing. China has also opposed France’s sale of Mirage 2000s to Taiwan in the 1990s.
Taiwan procured 60 Mirage 2000-5s from France. However, over time, the accidents have reduced Taiwan’s Mirage-2000 fleet to 54 aircraft.
The Mirage fleet played a critical role in Taiwan’s air defense during the last two and a half decades. However, keeping them operational has become costly. Logistical constraints and aging airframes have resulted in an availability rate that is reportedly below 60%.
Meanwhile, the breakneck pace of Chinese Air Force modernization is also putting pressure on Taiwan to modernize its aging fleet of fighter jets.
Apart from the 54 remaining Mirage-2000s, Taiwan also has approximately 140 modernized F-16s and around 60 Indigenous Defense Fighters (IDFs).
Taiwan is also acquiring 66 new F-16V Block 70 “Viper” fighter jets from the United States. Taiwan received its first deliveries of the F-16V earlier in March this year.
Taiwan also wants to diversify its air force, rather than getting overtly dependent on the US.
Meanwhile, procuring spares for the Mirage 2000s is also becoming increasingly challenging, as most of Dassault’s clients are upgrading to the Rafale from the Mirage 2000.
Earlier this year, during a hearing at the French National Assembly’s Economic Affairs Committee, Trappier was asked about the challenges Taiwan faces in maintaining its Mirage 2000 fighters.
Marie-Noël Batista, Member of Parliament and head of the France-Taiwan friendship group, raised concerns that spare parts for the Mirage fleet can take up to two years to arrive and asked whether this delay was linked to technical challenges or to political constraints.
In response, Trappier acknowledged that sustaining the Mirage spare parts supply line is becoming increasingly challenging as production winds down and most of Dassault’s clients are already upgrading to the Rafale.
“The Mirage 2000 is at the end of its life. It still flies a little in France, but it will stop. The dynamic of spare parts and repairs is decreasing, but we continue to support Taiwan very well. It is a bit harder than before, but we are doing it,” Trappier told lawmakers.
“Everybody has said that the future would be the Rafale. That is true for all our export clients who are moving from the Mirage 2000 to the Rafale. And you know very well what the Taiwanese want. What they want is Rafale,” Trappier said.
However, Trappier also made it clear that the final decision to supply Rafale to Taiwan would depend on the government.
“That does not depend on me, and I do not say whether it is right or wrong to sell to Taiwan. That is not my responsibility, it is that of the state,” Trappier told the lawmakers.
Rafale Unscathed By Chinese Propaganda?
Earlier this year, Rafale and Chinese 4.5-generation J-10CE fighter jets squared off against each other.
Following the aerial battle between India and Pakistan in May this year, Islamabad claimed that it shot down five Indian fighter jets, including three Rafales. Later, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif claimed that Pakistan shot down six Indian fighter jets.
India has acknowledged combat losses but refused to provide details on the number and type of aircraft lost. However, Trappier acknowledged that one Indian Air Force Rafale was indeed lost. But, he underlined that the aircraft was lost due to “technical glitches” at “high altitude,” and not due to enemy fire.
Following the aerial clash, China launched a coordinated campaign against the Rafale, highlighting that its J-10C fighter jet, which costs nearly half that of the Rafale, is a more capable aircraft.
Beijing also exaggerated Rafale losses.
In July 2025, an Associated Press investigation revealed that China used diplomatic channels and online media to question the Rafale’s performance against Chinese fighter jets.
Defense attaches in China’s foreign embassies led a charge to undermine Rafale sales. They sought to persuade countries that have already ordered the French-made fighter — notably Indonesia — not to purchase more and to encourage other potential buyers to opt for Chinese-made planes.
According to French officials, the Chinese campaign included viral social media posts, manipulated imagery showing supposed Rafale debris, AI-generated content, and video-game depictions to simulate combat, portraying the Rafale as vulnerable compared to the J-10 and the long-range PL-15 missile.
[]\However, despite the Chinese propaganda, Indonesia doubled down on Rafale. Indonesia signed a letter of intent for 12 Rafale jets in June, just over a month after the India-Pakistan clash.
Furthermore, the Indian Air Force has reaffirmed its confidence in the Rafale and is pushing for the procurement of 114 additional Rafale jets.
Dassault Aviation has sold over 530 Rafales, including more than 320 for export to Egypt, India, Qatar, Greece, Croatia, the United Arab Emirates, Serbia, and Indonesia.
Since the May India-Pakistan clash, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has successfully updated the electronic warfare (EW) threat library of its Dassault Rafale fighter jets to include the seeker signatures of China’s PL-15 missile.
This upgrade was achieved through the use of electronic intelligence (ELINT) and analysis of recovered PL-15 missile components. By incorporating the PL-15’s characteristics into the Rafale’s Spectra EW suite, the IAF aims to improve its aircraft’s ability to detect, track, jam, and evade these advanced Chinese missiles.
The J-20 also uses the PL-15 as its primary beyond-visual-range (BVR) air-to-air missile. This means that any future clash between the Rafale and Chinese fighter jets could have unpredictable consequences.
- Sumit Ahlawat has over a decade of experience in news media. He has worked with Press Trust of India, Times Now, Zee News, Economic Times, and Microsoft News. He holds a Master’s Degree in International Media and Modern History from the University of Sheffield, UK.
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