Ukraine’s headline-grabbing deal to acquire up to 100 Rafale fighters from France is less a plan to win the current war than a bet on the post-war future. -With France’s production line already busy and deliveries likely stretching deep into the 2030s,

Ukraine has signed a procurement agreement with France covering the acquisition of 100 Dassault Rafale F4 fighters by 2035, along with air defence systems and joint drone production programmes.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Emmanuel Macron together signed a letter of intent that sets out the groundwork for a Ukrainian buy of up to 100 Dassault Rafale

Ukraine will obtain up to 100 French-made Rafale warplanes over the next 10 years under a deal signed on Monday, both countries said, as Kyiv seeks to bolster its defences against Russia's invasion.

(Saint-Cloud, France, November 17, 2025) – Dassault Aviation would like to thank the Ukrainian and French authorities for the declaration of intent to acquire the Rafale fighter jet, which they have just signed, and for the confidence they have placed in the operational capabilities of this aircraft.

Ukraine is seeking up to 100 of the French fighters as part of a long-term modernization program that also includes Saab Gripens. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky and French President Emmanuel Macron signed a declaration of intent on defense equipment acquisition at Villacoublay air base near Paris on Nov. 17.

Watch the French Air Force's Dassault Rafale tear through the skies in this breathtaking low and fast display! Featuring aggressive rolls, high-G maneuvers, and full afterburner power, the Rafale showcases its incredible agility and raw performance.