Ukraine to Receive Rafale Fighter Jets From France—What They Bring to the Battlefield

Ukrainian and French leaders met in Paris on November 17, finalizing a 10-year roadmap that includes several priority areas for strengthening Ukraine’s air defense and aviation capabilities. The deal provides for:

• delivery of Rafale multirole fighter jets, partially sourced from France’s existing fleet;

• joint work on developing Ukraine’s future air force structure;

• new supplies of SAMP/T air defense systems and associated missiles;

• additional counter-drone technologies.

The standout element is the Rafale issue. While Paris has not yet made an official public announcement, UNITED24 Media reports that France is preparing to supply aircraft to Ukraine.

France has already transferred Mirage jets, which are reportedly performing missions over Ukraine. Rafale would mark a significant upgrade: previously, it was not part of any public discussion. The quantity and timing of deliveries remain undisclosed, with Paris indicating that Ukraine could receive jets both from active stock and future production.

What Rafale brings to Ukraine

The program was launched by Dassault Aviation back in the 1970s, after France decided to consolidate several types of military aircraft into one universal platform capable of operating in any conditions. Talks about a joint European fighter eventually broke down, leading France to pursue an independent design.

The prototype, then known as “Project ACX,” first flew in 1985. Multiple redesigns and trials followed, and a renewed version was presented in 1990. The program survived more than a decade of budget skepticism and political debate, but by 1998 the first serial jet took flight, and in the early 2000s Rafale officially entered service.

Around 90% of production is localized within France—making Rafale the only major European fighter primarily developed and manufactured by a single nation. Today, it forms the backbone of France’s air combat fleet. Apart from France, Rafale is in service with India, Egypt, Qatar, Croatia and Greece—and Ukraine may be next.

Kyiv’s long-term objective, according to officials, is to build an air fleet of around 250 modern fighters, combining F-16, Gripen and Rafale. Sweden has already agreed to supply 100–150 Gripen jets, while Ukraine expects around 80 F-16s from partners. Rafale could fill the remaining capability gap. Dassault currently manufactures 2–3 aircraft per month, and plans to reach 5 per month by 2026.

Why Rafale matters militarily

Rafale is a 4+ generation multirole fighter platform, capable of deploying a wide range of NATO-standard weapons—from AIM-120 to Storm Shadow / SCALP cruise missiles. Originally designed as a fourth-generation jet, decades of upgrades have moved it into the “four-plus” category, with improved stealth features and modern combat avionics.

Its key advantages:

• True multirole capability. Rafale can perform air-to-air combat, long-range strikes, reconnaissance and nuclear-deterrence missions. It is the core asset of France’s nuclear strike capability.

• Strategic independence. Unlike Eurofighter Typhoon or Gripen, Rafale export decisions depend only on the French government. No international licensing or veto mechanism applies—a significant factor for Ukraine.

The aircraft has been battle-tested in Libya, Mali, Syria and Iraq, including missions against ISIS.

Impact on Ukraine’s air power transition

For decades, Ukraine relied on Soviet-built MiG and Su fighters. This is changing: Western partners have already deployed F-16s, while a limited batch of French Mirage jets is operating in combat.

In 2025, Kyiv also signed a long-term deal with Sweden to receive Gripen jets and potentially localize Saab production in Ukraine when security allows.

Rafale may become the final cornerstone of Ukraine’s transition to a modern NATO-compatible air force. A 250-jet fleet would enable Ukraine not only to defend its territory but also to integrate into Western defense systems, share technology and intelligence, and fully abandon Soviet-era hardware.

For France, the partnership means defense-industrial growth, long-term contracts, and stronger geopolitical positioning. Ukraine, meanwhile, serves as the most relevant testing and data-gathering theater for modern Western aerospace systems—shaping future R&D and battlefield innovation.

Support Frontline Journalism by UNITED24 Media

DONATE NOW