Ukrainian Pilots Will Soon Begin Rafale Training in France, Zelenskyy Says

Ukrainian pilots will soon begin training on French Rafale fighter jets in France, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared on October 5 following talks with French President Emmanuel Macron.

Zelenskyy announced the plans on his official Telegram channel after discussing Ukraine’s air defense needs and new French military assistance with Macron.

“Ukrainian pilots will begin training on French Rafale aircraft in France in the near future,” Zelenskyy wrote. “This is a strong step for Ukrainian combat aviation.”

France is also preparing a new defense package for Ukraine, which Kyiv expects to receive soon. Zelenskyy noted that the two leaders discussed the package’s contents but provided no details about the weapons or equipment involved.

Ukrainian and French teams are additionally working to localize the production of French missiles and aerial bombs in Ukraine. Zelenskyy added that preparations for the FREYJA  system are advancing and that the sides discussed ways to accelerate the work.

Read more

Category

War in Ukraine

Sweden and Ukraine: How Two Countries Built One of Europe's Most Important Defence Partnerships

Jun 22, 2026 13:06

The Dassault Rafale is a French twin-engine multirole fighter designed for air superiority, air defense, precision ground strikes, reconnaissance, and long-range missions, with a maximum speed of Mach 1.8 and a capacity for up to 9.5 tons of external weapons and fuel.

In Ukrainian service, the aircraft could strengthen both air defense and strike aviation, using weapons including MICA and long-range METEOR air-to-air missiles, AASM precision bombs, and SCALP cruise missiles.

The agreement also provides for accompanying air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons, while Zelenskyy confirmed on October 5 that Ukrainian pilots would begin training on the Rafale in France in the near future.

Preparations for the Rafale program have been underway for months, and instruction for Ukrainian pilots and technicians was expected to begin in France as early as July, before the end of the year.

The early stages of the pipeline rely on GROB G 120TP trainers and Dornier Alpha Jet aircraft, which allow pilots to master navigation, flight controls, and combat maneuvers before moving on to frontline fighters. Kyiv and Paris have agreed on an initial batch of 16 Rafales, with the first four slated for transfer once training is complete.

The first aircraft are expected in Ukraine in 2028–2029, while plans reported in November 2025 envisioned as many as 100 Rafales over the longer term.

France's push to equip Ukraine with the Rafale builds on earlier fighter support for the Ukrainian Air Force. In February 2026, Ukraine was reportedly set to receive two Mirage 2000 jets from France by the end of the first quarter, along with additional training for pilots and maintenance crews. Over the long term, Ukraine was expected to field at least six French Mirage 2000 fighters.

Help us understand what you already know

Join United24 audience survey