Ukrainian pilots to begin Rafale fighter training in France soon, Zelenskyy says
Ukrainian pilots will soon begin training in France to fly Rafale fighter jets, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Oct. 5, marking the next step in a French-Ukrainian plan that could see Kyiv acquire 16 of the aircraft beginning in 2028–2029.
Zelenskyy announced the training after a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron, saying the two leaders had discussed Ukraine's defense needs amid intensified Russian attacks.
“Ukrainian pilots will begin training on French Rafale aircraft in France in the near future. This is a strong step for Ukrainian combat aviation,” Zelenskyy said.
Zelenskyy said new French defense deliveries were being prepared and that Ukraine expected the latest package to arrive soon.
The two countries are also continuing work on localizing the production of French missiles and aerial bombs in Ukraine, according to Zelenskyy.
France and Ukraine announced a roadmap in July for Kyiv to acquire 16 Rafale fighter jets and their weapons. Macron said at the time that the first aircraft were expected to enter Ukrainian service in 2028–2029.
France has already begun preparing to train Ukrainian pilots on the aircraft. French Minister Delegate for Europe Benjamin Haddad said last week that Paris had “started work” on the training program, Le Parisien reported.
According to the French newspaper, the first four Rafales could be transferred after Ukrainian pilots complete their training cycle.
The Rafale is a French-made twin-engine multirole fighter produced by Dassault Aviation. Ukraine already operates French Mirage 2000 fighter jets alongside US-made F-16s as it gradually shifts its combat aviation away from Soviet-designed aircraft.
Unlike earlier emergency transfers of Western fighter jets during the war, the Rafale program has a multi-year timeline, with pilot training beginning well before the aircraft are expected to arrive.