Ukraine eyes 250-300 jet fleet with Rafales, Gripens and F-16s post-war
October 31, 2025
Ukraine wants French Rafales as one of its frontline fighters after the war, alongside F-16s and Gripens. While Gripens will form the backbone of the fleet, the Rafale will be the most expensive and largest fighter jet.
Ukraine’s plan for a 250-300-strong post-war fighter jet fleet
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently revealed that Ukraine’s medium-term, post-war plans are to have a fleet of up to 250 modern Western fighter jets, saying “…the future of our combat aviation is a fleet of 250 new aircraft.” Elsewhere, the number is reported to be 250-300 fighter jets.
Zelensky stated that the fleet would be made up of a mix of F-16 Fighting Falcons, Saab JAS 36 Gripens, and Rafales. He stated, “I am conducting three parallel conversations about aircraft — with the Swedes, the French, and the Americans.”
French President Macron was reported in 2021 to have intended to offer Ukraine its advanced Rafale fighters to replace its MiG-29s. However, the war broke out in 2022, and focus switched to second-hand F-16s that could be rapidly supplied in higher numbers.
❗️The 🇫🇷French company Dassault Aviation has reported its readiness to supply Rafale fighters to the 🇺🇦Ukrainian Air Force.
— 🪖MilitaryNewsUA🇺🇦 (@front_ukrainian) October 29, 2025
According to Le Journal du Dimanche, negotiations with the Ukrainian side are already underway, but their stage is currently unknown. pic.twitter.com/sjUBwQxU2r
The statement is not particularly surprising, although it is revealing. Ukraine is operating a menagerie of fighter jets, representing a massive logistical burden. After the war, it is expected to retire its ageing and tired fleet of Soviet-era MiG-29s, Su-24s, and Su-27s.
It’s possible the first Gripen Es and Rafales could arrive during the war, although it mostly reflects Ukraine’s plans for a post-war fleet.
Ukraine exploring purchasing French Rafales
Perhaps the most interesting is the high-end French Rafale. France is already planning to supply Ukraine with as many as 20 Mirage 2000s, but Zelensky did not mention these as part of its eventual fleet.
These are ageing (but modernised) aircraft being progressively retired by air forces like France and Greece, and may be more of a stopgap to serve Ukraine’s immediate wartime needs rather than a longer-term force structure.
OSINT analyst, Latin American Military Aviation noted of the Rafale, “It was always obvious that as well as being a useful modernised 4th-gen type, the Mirage 2000 established links to the French Air Force and aviation industry.”
One of the key advantages of the Rafale (along with other modern Western fighters) is the ability to carry Europe’s long-range air-to-air Meteor missile. With Russian aircraft launching stand-off attacks further and further back from the front, missiles like the Meteor are sorely needed to counter Russian aviation.
Following Zelensky’s comments, France’s Le Journal du Dimanche, citing unnamed sources, confirmed Dassault is willing to supply Rafales. The number of Rafales under consideration remains unclear.
✈️👀 Dassault Aviation has announced its readiness to supply Rafale fighter jets to the Ukrainian Air Force. pic.twitter.com/GUkPpLdOGL
— MAKS 25 🇺🇦👀 (@Maks_NAFO_FELLA) October 29, 2025
The Rafale has experienced a boom in international orders, and Dassault is working to ramp up production. Dassault delivered its 300th Rafale in October 2025. France is expected to place another significant order for the jet, and it is expected to remain in service with the French Air Force until 2060, when it will be replaced by the troubled FCAS sixth-generation fighter.
Saab Gripen to form core of future fighter jet fleet
Ukraine recently signed a Letter of Intent with Sweden to purchase 100-150 new-build Gripen E fighter jets. This would suggest that around half of Ukraine’s post-war fleet will be Gripens. The Gripen is a priority jet for Ukraine.
The first Gripen is expected to arrive in 2026, although initial deliveries may include older Gripen C/Ds transferred from the Swedish Air Force. Saab is now looking at how to ramp up its production capacity, including utilising the Embraer production line established to build Brazil’s fleet of Gripen Es.
The Gripen was specifically designed by Sweden to fight the exact type of war Ukraine is fighting, although they are limited by available numbers, unlike the ubiquitous F-16.
They are noted for being easy to operate in dispersed and austere conditions while being cheaper to maintain. It also only takes six months for Ukrainian pilots to train compared with 18 months, according to Zelensky.
Around 90 retiring European F-16s have been donated or pledged by European states. Zelensky stated Ukraine is in talks with the United States for more, although it is unclear if these would be retiring airframes or new-build Block 70/72s.
Featured Image: Dassault Aviation
