France prepared to supply Ukraine with fighter jets, but not without conditions
Dassault Rafale aircraft (Photo: Getty Images)
France is promoting a plan to strengthen Ukraine’s air power over the next decade with new fighter jets and missile defense systems. However, the question of who will pay for it remains unresolved, according to The Wall Street Journal.
On Monday, November 16, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyн and French President Emmanuel Macron signed a declaration of intent in Paris for a major enhancement of Ukrainian aviation and air defense.
Ukraine plans to purchase around 100 French Rafale fighter jets, manufactured by Dassault Aviation. The program will also include other high-tech weapons, such as SAMP/T air defense systems, modern radar complexes, and combat drones.
Defense analysts have reacted skeptically to this announcement, the WSJ notes. The article suggests that neither Kyiv nor Paris currently has the funds to finance the production of these fighter jets.
France hopes that the European Union will cover part of the costs, but existing programs are insufficient.
French officials are pushing for the EU to develop a long-term strategy to fund Ukraine’s military capabilities over the coming years. Currently, the EU is considering offering Ukraine a loan of €183 billion, with funds proposed to come from frozen Russian assets. However, this proposal faces legal and political challenges.
At the same time, analysts note that Dassault Aviation already has a full order portfolio, and its production capacity may not be able to deliver new aircraft quickly.
What the declaration with France provides
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the declaration of intent on cooperation in acquiring defense equipment allows Ukraine to purchase military equipment from the French defense industrial and technological base, including 100 Rafale F4 aircraft by 2035 for Ukraine’s combat aviation, SAMP-T air defense systems, radars for air defense systems, air-to-air missiles, and air bombs.
In turn, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that Ukraine will be the first among all customer countries to receive the advanced SAMP/T air defense system, which is still under development.
