US EditionUkraine signs a letter of intent to buy up to 100 Rafale warplanes from France
The letter of intent marks a 10-year defense cooperation to enhance Ukraine's air force with up to 100 Rafale jets amid ongoing conflict, officials said.
- On Nov. 17, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and French President Emmanuel Macron signed a declaration of intent in Paris, with Ukraine agreeing to buy up to 100 Dassault Rafale fighters.
- Seeking to bolster defenses, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made the Paris stop as part of a European tour after visiting Greece on Nov. 16, with a planned visit to Spain on Nov. 18 amid Russian bombardment of energy infrastructure.
- The pact covers a decade-long cooperation framework for jets, air defenses and sensors, including Rafale jets, SAMP/T air defense system, drones, and radar systems, though the full content is not disclosed.
- Kyiv's move represents a major diplomatic and military signal to allies and adversaries, with the `historic order` for Rafale jets deepening ties as Paris supplied Mirage 2000 fighters and SCALP long-range missiles since 2022.
- The Rafale intent positions Kyiv to deepen its air-defense and combat capabilities alongside Western suppliers after receiving F-16 fighter jets from Denmark and the Netherlands and eyeing Swedish-made Gripen fighters in the coming years.
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Zelensky called the deal historic.
The president flies to France and buys 100 Rafale, 8 anti-aircraft, radars, bombs and trains: with Swedish fighters, the account exceeds 30 billion (ours). And Ursula wants to give him another 70, to cover the huge deficit of Kiev.To the department store Lafayette, Volodymyr Zelensky bought 100 fighters, eight anti-aircraft, four radar systems, six bomb launches and 55 trains. So, without having yet sent a foreign legionary to the front, Emmanue…
"Paris does not contribute to peace under any circumstances," the Kremlin spokesman said.
It is a letter of intent, for now. However, it could turn into the largest Rafale hunting order that Dassault Aviation has received so far from abroad: it is 100 multirole fighters,...
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