China Used AI Propaganda to Discredit India’s Rafale Jets Following Operation Sindoor, US Study Finds

China orchestrated a sophisticated artificial intelligence-powered propaganda campaign targeting India’s Rafale fighter jet acquisition while promoting its own J-35 stealth fighter, according to a new study by American research firm Graphika.

The operation, dubbed “Spamouflage Dragon,” intensified its activities in the aftermath of India’s Operation Sindoor, a precision strike conducted against terrorist camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on June 6, 2024. The researchers found this campaign to be part of China’s broader information warfare strategy aimed at undermining India’s defense capabilities while elevating perception of Chinese military technology.

Graphika’s analysis revealed that Chinese operatives deployed hundreds of AI-generated social media accounts across platforms including Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube to spread tailored narratives about the alleged technical deficiencies of France’s Dassault Rafale fighters, which India purchased in a high-profile $8.7 billion deal. The accounts simultaneously promoted China’s domestically produced Shenyang J-35 fighter as a superior alternative.

“The coordinated nature of these information operations suggests state involvement,” said Emma Richards, lead researcher at Graphika. “What makes this campaign particularly concerning is its use of deepfake technology to create seemingly authentic videos of aviation experts criticizing the Rafale’s performance capabilities.”

The timing of the campaign’s escalation coincided with heightened regional tensions following Operation Sindoor, suggesting an opportunistic attempt to exploit the security situation along the India-Pakistan border. Indian defense officials have dismissed the claims as “manufactured falsehoods” designed to create doubt about India’s military modernization efforts.

The study identified several key propaganda techniques employed by the network, including the creation of fictitious technical reports, manipulation of performance data, and circulation of misleading comparisons between the two aircraft. One particularly sophisticated element involved AI-generated imagery purporting to show Rafale jets experiencing maintenance issues during Indian Air Force exercises.

Defense analysts note that this campaign reflects growing concerns about China’s increasing use of AI-driven information warfare. Dr. Sameer Patil, defense expert at the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi, told reporters: “Beijing recognizes that perception management is as important as actual military capabilities in modern geopolitical competition. By targeting the Rafale, China aims to undermine India’s confidence in its defense partnerships with Western nations.”

The Rafale deal has been a cornerstone of India’s air force modernization and represents one of the most significant defense agreements between India and France in recent decades. The aircraft played a crucial role in bolstering India’s air capabilities amid ongoing border tensions with China in the Himalayan region.

Meanwhile, China’s J-35, still in development phases, represents Beijing’s ambitions to produce fifth-generation fighter aircraft domestically. Military experts believe the propaganda campaign may also serve as market positioning for potential export sales of Chinese military aircraft to countries that traditionally purchased Western equipment.

French officials have privately expressed concern about the disinformation campaign. A spokesperson for Dassault Aviation stated that the Rafale’s combat record and technical specifications “speak for themselves,” adding that the company “remains committed to its partnership with the Indian Air Force.”

U.S. State Department officials monitoring the situation have characterized the campaign as part of a broader pattern of Chinese information operations targeting American allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region.

The Graphika report also highlighted how the operation exploited legitimate discussions about defense procurement costs and technology transfer issues to amplify divisions within Indian policy circles. By embedding propaganda within authentic defense policy debates, the campaign attempted to gain credibility and wider distribution.

Indian cybersecurity agencies have reportedly begun countermeasures to identify and neutralize the fake accounts, while defense ministry officials have issued clarifications about the Rafale’s operational capabilities.

The findings underscore the evolving nature of information warfare in contested geopolitical spaces, where military hardware decisions increasingly face sophisticated influence campaigns designed to shape public and policy-maker perceptions.