A French Dassault Rafale fighter jet performs maneuvers at an airshow in Bucharest, Romania, in August 2026. Ukraine is slated to buy 100 of the aircraft from France, with initial deliveries projected for 2028 or 2029. (Shutterstock/Tudoran Andrei)

Ukrainian Pilots to Receive Rafale Training in France

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In addition to its commitment to Ukraine, France has seen a growing international customer base for the Rafale, with new interested buyers as far away as Vietnam.

France and Ukraine reached an agreement earlier in the year that could see Ukraine purchase up to 100 Dassault Rafale fighter jets. This week, it appears that Ukrainian pilots are ready to begin training on the fighter jet in France.

“We discussed the escalation of Russian terror and our defense needs. New defense supplies are currently being prepared, and we expect the new package to arrive in Ukraine soon; we discussed its contents. Additionally, Ukrainian pilots will soon begin training on French Rafale jets in France. This is a significant step for Ukrainian combat aviation,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote in a post on the Telegram social messaging app, following a conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron. “Our teams are also continuing to work on localizing the production of French missiles and aerial bombs in Ukraine. We are actively preparing the FREYJA system and discussed areas where we can accelerate........

© The National Interest