Ukraine moves closer to 100 French Dassault Rafale fighters for post-war air fleet
November 18, 2025
Ukraine has reached a tentative agreement with France to purchase up to 100 Dassault Rafale fighter jets. This builds on last month’s announcement that Ukraine will purchase 120-150 Swedish Gripen E fighter jets to build a post-war fleet of 250-300 modern fighter jets.
France agrees to sell up to 100 Rafales to Ukraine
Yesterday, French President Macron and Ukrainian President Zelensky signed a Letter of Intent for Ukraine to purchase up to 100 Dassault Rafales, eight SAMP/T next-generation air defence systems, and a range of other French weapons like air defence radars, air-to-air missiles, and aerial bombs.
Zelensky wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that the agreement includes 100 Rafale F4 aircraft to be delivered by 2035. It remains unclear when the first jets will arrive.
On French television, Zelensky said, “We’re planning Rafales, 100 Rafales — that’s huge. That’s what’s needed for the regeneration of the Ukrainian military.”
The announcement was expected after Ukraine stated it wanted a fleet of up to 300 modern fighter jets composed of Rafales, Gripen Es, and F-16s.
Today marks a significant moment, truly historic for both our nations – France and Ukraine. Together with Emmanuel Macron, we signed a Declaration of Intent on Cooperation in the Acquisition of Defense Equipment for Ukraine. This document enables Ukraine to procure military… pic.twitter.com/0qzG41IsnP
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) November 17, 2025
The deal also builds on France’s already supplying a limited number of older Mirage 2000 fighter jets to Ukraine. Before the full-scale war in 2022, France had offered Rafales to Ukraine.
Unanswered questions about Ukraine’s Rafale buy
There are currently some important unanswered questions about just how Ukraine will be able to purchase and absorb all these fighter jets.
The War Zone wrote, “there remain glaring questions about whether the acquisition of one of these aircraft types [Rafale, Gripen E], let alone two, is actually feasible, especially in such numbers.” The logistical headache will certainly prove real for years to come, although it will be aided as Ukraine’s Soviet-era jets retire in the coming years.
The French newspaper, Le Monde, pointed out that, like all Letters of Intent, the document is not a binding agreement, but rather a formalisation of ongoing negotiations. It added, “how these acquisitions will be financed, produced, and implemented remains highly uncertain.”
✈️ Mirage 2000 of the Ukrainian Air Force flies on a combat mission, awaiting good news from France.
— Ukrainian Air Force (@KpsZSU) November 17, 2025
Ukraine🤝France
🇺🇦 Together to Victory! pic.twitter.com/edlm8FtIuf
Dassault, the company producing Rafales, saw its stock price increase by around 7% after the announcement. Unlike with the Gripen E, there is currently no discussion about any localised production.
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Leaning towards the Greek model while in need of Meteor air-to-air missiles
Aviation OSINT account Latin American Military Aviation pointed out that there is a chance that a small number of Rafales could be transferred ahead of the first production. These would likely come from French military stocks.
As with #Gripen there is is a chance that a small number of aircraft may be transferred ahead of the first production #Rafale for #Ukraine (though no earlier variant exists) 1/ https://t.co/FXEzCC47iP
— Latin American Military Aviation (@LatinMilAv) November 17, 2025
Latin notes that while Ukraine has mentioned Israel as a model for its force structure, its air force appears to be leaning towards a more Greek-like model. Greece maintains a powerful air force of multiple fighter jet types due to its centuries-long competition with Turkey/Ottoman Empire.
Sometimes it is easy to focus on large systems like fighter jets and overlook less publicised systems that are equally important. One of the most urgently needed assets by Ukraine is the Meteor air-to-air missile, at least in the absence of the latest American air-to-air missiles.
Russian fighter jets can fire glide bombs from further back, putting them out of range of Ukraine’s ground-based air defence. Meteor, paired with the right jet, is one of the few systems still able to counter these Russian jets from that extended distance.
Gripen can carry Meteor, an advanced radar-guided air-to-air missile with the greatest no-escape zone. It can engage air targets autonomously, day or night, in all weather and even in harsh electronic warfare environments. pic.twitter.com/hZNdPlaISY
— Saab (@Saab) April 12, 2024
Latin adds, “the introduction of even a small number of Meteor-capable Gripen and Rafales, which will help counter Russia’s glide bomb carriers that regularly target innocent civilians.”
Featured Image: President Zelensky
