Ukraine has secured one of its most significant long-term defense commitments yet after President Volodymyr Zelensky and French President Emmanuel Macron signed a 10-year security pact in Paris on Monday, opening the door for Kyiv to acquire Rafale fighter jets, SAMP/T air-defense systems, advanced missiles and anti-drone technology.
The agreement, signed at Villacoublay Air Base outside the French capital, marks a major step in Ukraine’s push to rebuild and modernize its air power as Russia continues to pound the country with drones and missiles.
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Zelensky called the pact a “truly historic moment for both nations,” saying it opens a path for Ukraine to buy military equipment from France’s defense-industrial base.
“New aircraft, new reinforcements, new steps to strengthen our army and our country,” he said in a statement after the signing.
“I am very grateful to France, to President Emmanuel Macron, and to the entire French nation.”
He added that joint Ukrainian-French defense projects – including co-production of interceptor drones and development of critical technologies for Ukrainian UAVs – will begin this year.
According to the Élysée Palace, the roadmap includes long-term plans for Ukraine to obtain around 100 Rafale jets along with their weapons packages “over a period of about ten years.”
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It also envisions the transfer of next-generation systems now in development, including the SAMP/T (Mamba) missile-defense platform, advanced radar technologies and drones.
Some Rafales could come from French stocks, while others would be provided through long-term acquisition programs.
During the joint press conference that followed the deal signing, President Macron said he was “taking a new step today” to collaborate with Ukraine, which he called “Europe’s first line of defense.”
“We continue to support Ukraine, the modernization of its armed forces and deterrence against aggression,” Macron said, adding that “the regeneration of the Ukrainian army is a commitment to the security of us all.”
Reuters reported that the pact fits into a broader 10-year vision to help Ukraine build a Western-style fleet of up to 250 combat aircraft made up of the US’s F-16s, Sweden’s Gripen fighters, and France’s Rafales.
“This historic agreement will significantly strengthen our combat aviation, air defense and overall defense capabilities,” Zelensky said ahead of the signing.
The Rafale, produced by Dassault Aviation, is one of Europe’s premier multirole fighters. Capable of air-superiority missions, deep strikes, nuclear delivery and naval operations, it would instantly elevate Ukraine’s air-combat capabilities to the highest Western standards.
The deal also includes additional SAMP/T launchers and Aster-30 interceptor missiles, weapons designed to counter the types of high-speed, high-altitude threats Russia routinely fires at Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.
Beyond aviation, the visit featured a forum linking Ukrainian and French drone manufacturers – part of a wider push to expand industrial cooperation and ensure Ukraine can eventually produce more of its own advanced systems.
The French pact comes just days after Sweden formally committed to supplying up to 150 JAS 39 Gripen fighters in a deal worth an estimated $12-$15 billion – another major boost to Ukraine’s long-term air-power plans.
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