Former French Rafale pilot Pierre‑Henri Chuet charged with espionage for China

Pierre‑Henri Chuet, a former French Navy Rafale fighter pilot, was placed under formal investigation by the French internal security agency (DGSI) and presented to a judge on suspicion of espionage. The charges include "intelligence with a foreign power," "delivery of information to a foreign power," "disclosure of national defence secrets," and "collection of information on the nation's fundamental interests."

Investigators allege that while still serving, Chuet travelled to China in September 2018 and August 2019 to conduct training seminars for Chinese military personnel, sometimes accompanied by a British pilot. The training was paid for through a South African shell company, TFASA, and was not reported to French authorities as required for personnel with security clearance. After leaving the service in 2021, Chuet continued to present himself as an aviation specialist, maintaining a popular YouTube channel with over half a million followers. The case, revived in 2026, raises concerns about the transfer of advanced Western naval aviation knowledge to a strategic rival.