France’s plan to back up Ukraine with air defence can infuriate Russia

Ukraine will purchase “up to 100” French-made Rafale fighter jets as well as anti-air defenses and drones from France, the Elysee Palace confirmed, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited Paris on Monday.

“We will have the greatest air defense system, one of the greatest in the world,” the Ukrainian president told reporters after signing the letter of intent with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Villacoublay Air Force Base southwest of Paris on Monday morning.  

Zelensky told reporters that the deal with France would include eight air defense systems and six launchers.

At the moment, the prospect of new Rafales, Gripens, or Fighter Falcons for Ukraine remain headline grabbing developments, but the diplomatic and logistical pathways, and especially the treasure, needed to actually realize a large fleet of 4.5 generation fighters are all questions to be answered later on.

Emmanuel Macron said that some of the deliveries of drones, interceptor drones and guided bombs, would come in the “very short term” with manufacturing commitments made for the coming three years. The Elysee Palace said that the purchases covered by the letter of intent would span the next 10 years.

Macron said that Ukraine will receive a “new generation” of the SAMP/T missile interceptor – largely comparable to the US-made Patriot system – which will be available in 2026.

Questioned over the financing of the deal, Zelensky said Ukraine was examining the possible co-production of the French-made jets.
This was Zelensky’s ninth visit to Paris since the 2022 Russian invasion, as France has become a central pillar of Western support for Ukraine, particularly given the unpredictability of US weapons supplies.

In a powerful show of Franco-Ukrainian military cooperation, the leaders inked the agreement in front of a Rafale jet loaded up with guided AASM bombs and beside a SCALP cruise missile that Paris has already supplied to Kyiv.

The two leaders were flanked by a SAMP/T missile interceptor system and a GF300 radar system that France has also sent to Ukraine.
European Council President Von Der Leyen has sent a letter to the European Union (EU) member countries calling for a fast agreement on how to fund Ukraine's enormous €135 billion budget hole for next year and 2027.

The Rafale is a multi-role fourth generation fighter jet, similar in role to the American F-16, capable of carrying out long-range bombing and dog-fighting tasks in the same mission, according to the French military forces.

France has previously provided Kyiv with Mirage jets, which form the backbone of France’s aerial bomber force.
France has seen broad success exporting the Rafale, including to India.