Ukraine Secures Major Deal for 100 French Rafale Fighter Jets

Tue Nov 18 2025 00:45:18 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a historic agreement, Ukraine will acquire up to 100 French-made Rafale fighter jets and advanced air defense systems to enhance its military capabilities against Russian aggression.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and French President Emmanuel Macron have signed a significant agreement for the acquisition of Rafale F4 fighter jets, expected to be delivered by 2035. Ukraine will also receive advanced radar systems and air defense equipment. This move aims to strengthen Ukraine's defense amid ongoing Russian missile assaults. The financial specifics of the deal are still being finalized, with potential EU financing and discussions surrounding the use of frozen Russian assets.

Ukraine will get up to 100 of France's Rafale F4 fighter jets as well as advanced air defence systems in a major deal to boost Kyiv's ability to protect itself against deadly Russian attacks.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hailed the move as historic, after signing the letter of intent with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron at an air base near Paris.

Deliveries of the Rafale F4's are planned to be completed by 2035, while the joint production of interceptor drones is starting this year.

Financial details are yet to be worked out, but reports say France plans to attract EU financing and also access frozen Russian assets - a controversial move that has split the 27-member bloc.

This is a strategic agreement which will last for 10 years starting from the next year, Zelensky said at a joint briefing with Macron on Monday.

Ukraine would also get very strong French radars, eight air defence systems and other advanced weaponry, he added.

Zelensky stressed that using such advanced systems means protecting someone's life... this is very important.

Russia has in recent months increased its drone and missile attacks against Ukraine, targeting energy and rail infrastructure and causing massive blackouts across the country.

Dozens of civilians have been killed in the strikes, in what Kyiv and its Western allies describe as war crimes. In the latest overnight Russian missile attack, three people were killed and 15 injured, in the north-eastern Ukrainian city of Balakliya, local officials said.

Speaking alongside Zelensky, Macron said: We're planning Rafales, 100 Rafales - that's huge. That's what's needed for the regeneration of the Ukrainian military.

The French president added that he wanted to help Ukraine prepare for whatever was coming next.

These Rafale fighter jets are seen as crucial to protecting Ukraine's skies, because the country is almost powerless in preventing long-range air strikes on its border towns and cities.

While this announcement between Kyiv and Paris is sizeable, Justin Bronk from the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) points out: The difference they'll make will depend on the timeframe and the missiles that come with them.

With the Rafales, further complexities arise around the question of who pays. It's thought France will dip into its own budget contributions for Kyiv, as well as look as joint EU borrowing mechanisms to help pay for the deal.

After France, Zelensky will travel to Spain to seek further military and other support for Ukraine.