Ukraine has signed a letter of intent to accumulate as much as 100 French Rafale multirole fighter jets together with air defence methods and drones throughout President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s go to to Paris, the UK Defence Journal understands.
The Élysée mentioned “a letter of intent for the longer term buy by Kiev of as much as 100 Rafale, anti-aircraft defence, and drones” was signed at Villacoublay air base. Zelenskyy referred to as the settlement “historic” as he and President Emmanuel Macron unveiled a 10-year cooperation roadmap overlaying aviation, air defence and counter-drone capabilities.
The bundle consists of eight SAMP/T air defence methods and 600 ASSM Hammer bombs. Ukraine intends to acquire Rafale F4 fighters by 2035, alongside radars, air-to-air missiles and different methods. Macron mentioned the plan varieties a part of the “regeneration of the Ukrainian military” geared toward serving to Kyiv “deter any additional incursions” by Russia.
Rafale can be a significant improve for Ukraine’s air drive, which nonetheless depends closely on Soviet-era plane regardless of latest arrivals of F-16s and Mirage 2000s. Paris has signalled that jets could come from each current French shares and new manufacturing, although supply timelines stay to be confirmed.
The Rafale intent follows an earlier settlement with Sweden for 100 to 150 Gripen-E jets. Some have already questioned how the 2 projected fleets can be balanced.
France has supplied €8.6 billion in army assist to Ukraine since 2022. The brand new settlement indicators a big deepening of Franco-Ukrainian defence ties and a long-term position for French business in rebuilding Ukraine’s air fight functionality.