France plans to start training Ukrainian pilots to operate its Rafale fighter jets in November, Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin announced during a parliamentary hearing on Thursday. The statement came as French lawmakers examined the country’s proposed 2027 defense budget and discussed continued military assistance to Ukraine.
Vautrin said discussions on combat aviation support remain ongoing, with the Rafale program a key focus. She confirmed that the initial phase of pilot training is scheduled to begin next month.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also announced progress on the initiative in a Telegram post on Monday, following a conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron. He described the upcoming training as an important development for Ukraine’s military aviation capabilities.
Ukraine Expands Its Western Fighter Fleet
In July 2026, Ukraine and France agreed on a roadmap that included the planned acquisition of 16 Rafale fighter aircraft, along with their associated weapons systems. The agreement forms part of Kyiv’s broader effort to strengthen its air force with modern Western platforms.
Ukraine has already received F-16 fighter jets from several European countries and Mirage 2000 aircraft from France. In May 2026, Kyiv also reached an agreement to purchase 20 new Gripen fighters from Sweden, which separately committed to donating 16 older-model aircraft.
According to Macron’s announcement in July, the first Rafale jets are expected to enter Ukrainian airspace in 2028 or 2029.
Cooperation on Missile and Bomb Production
France and Ukraine are also working to establish domestic Ukrainian production capabilities for French-designed missiles and aerial munitions. Zelenskyy said the two countries were continuing discussions on local manufacturing, while Vautrin confirmed that licensing procedures for missile production were underway.
Vautrin emphasized that France views its support for Ukraine as part of a broader effort to protect European security.
Under the July agreement, Ukraine is also expected to receive an initial number of next-generation SAMP/T NG air-defense systems, together with interceptor missiles. The two countries additionally approved licensing arrangements covering the manufacture of several weapons in Ukraine, including Safran’s AASM precision glide-bomb kits, MBDA’s Aster 30 air-defense missiles, and the SCALP/Storm Shadow air-launched cruise missile.
Ukraine already operates an earlier version of the French-Italian SAMP/T air-defense system, which uses interceptors from MBDA’s Aster missile family. Its armed forces also employ the AASM Hammer precision-guided glide bomb developed by Safran.
Longer-Term Plans for Rafale and Gripen Aircraft
Ukraine’s ambitions extend beyond the initial Rafale procurement plan. In November 2025, Kyiv signed a letter of intent with France to purchase as many as 100 Rafale fighters manufactured by Dassault Aviation. The move followed a similar agreement with Sweden the previous month, outlining the potential export of up to 150 Gripen E fighters produced by Saab.
The Rafale is equipped with advanced systems designed to support air combat and electronic warfare missions. Its weapons include MBDA’s Meteor long-range air-to-air missile, which analysts regard as one of the leading systems of its type in Western service. The aircraft also features an electronic warfare suite and radar supplied by Thales.
Both systems received upgrades under the Rafale F4.1 configuration, which France’s Directorate General of Armaments qualified in March 2023.
The planned training program represents another step in France’s military cooperation with Ukraine as Kyiv works to modernize its air force, strengthen its air defenses, and develop greater domestic capacity to manufacture and maintain advanced weapons systems.
