Ukraine, letter of intent for 100 Dassault Rafale fighters

It is a letter of intent, for now. However, it could turn into the largest Rafale fighter order that Dassault Aviation has received so far from abroad: 100 multi-role fighters, to be delivered if the agreement goes through within ten to twelve years (but India has opened negotiations for 114 aircraft). So far, the Saint Cloud group has produced 300 aircraft, out of total orders for 533 aircraft. With a cost comprised - depending on the models and equipment - between 70 and 80 million euro each, the agreement is worth between seven and eight billion. The talks will also cover fighter missiles, the AASM (or Hammer), the supersonic surface-to-air missiles of the Italian-French SAMP-T project, four radars and drones. In a civil agreement, Ukraine agreed to purchase 55 Alstom locomotives for goods trains at a cost of EUR 470 million financed by EBRD and the World Bank.

Ukraine has definitely chosen to strengthen its aviation in the medium to long term. A similar letter of intent was signed on 22 October with Sweden's Saab for 120-150 Jas39E Gripen, with first delivery set for now for 2026 (but it will have to be verified whether the two documents are alternative or complementary). Fundamental will also be the issue of financing these purchases.

The signing was described as 'historic' by Volodymir Zelensky and Emmanuel Macron, who met yesterday at 107 Villacoublay airbase, 13 kilometres from Paris; and then moved to Fort Valérien where there is the headquarters of the "Ukrainian multinational force" that France, Great Britain and the coalition of the willing is preparing for the post-war period. The visit ended at the Elysée Palace, where a press conference was held. "From day one of Russian aggression, France has chosen unambiguous support for Ukraine. It is a commitment to our collective security," Macron said. "On the other side," he continued, "Russia alone has chosen war. Everything is ready for peace, it is only Russia that refuses it." "Russia," he added, "pursues the goal of taking control of Ukraine. In the face of this obstinacy, this intransigence, we remain determined and tenacious in pursuing peace'.

It is for this reason, according to Macron, that 'we continue to support Ukraine, the modernisation of its armed forces and deterrence against aggression': 'The regeneration of the Ukrainian army is a commitment to the security of us all'. The letter of intent 'is a demonstration of France's willingness to put its industrial and technological excellence at the heart of Ukraine and Europe,' said the president, who returned to call for a 'just and lasting' peace that, he hoped, 'can be achieved before 2027'.

"The signing of this agreement allows for a substantial strengthening of our defence capability. Together we will increase the industrial and technological potential of France and Ukraine," Zelensky said in the meantime. "Ukraine will be able to receive 100 Rafale aircraft, four French radars, eight anti-aircraft defence systems, six bomb delivery systems; it is very important for us," he added. "The goal is to strengthen Kiev's deterrence capacity" against any "attempted incursion," Macron commented, "and to equip the Ukrainian army with its own defence capabilities to protect its airspace.