Air Force
France to begin training Ukrainian pilots on the Rafale in November
French Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin told the National Assembly on October 8 that the first training of Ukrainian pilots on the Rafale will start in November, as Paris moves ahead with the July roadmap with Kyiv.
France will begin training Ukrainian pilots on the Rafale fighter in November, Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin told a hearing at the French National Assembly on Thursday, October 8.
“We are continuing discussions on the fighter aviation component, in particular the Rafale,” Vautrin said, replying to deputies’ questions on aid to Ukraine during the debate on the 2027 defence budget. “From November we will begin the first training of Ukrainian pilots on the Rafale.” She added that “by supporting Ukraine, we are defending Europe.” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had announced the training on Monday, October 5, on Telegram, after a conversation with Emmanuel Macron.
The July roadmap
In July Ukraine agreed with France a roadmap that includes a plan to buy 16 Rafales with their weapons systems. Macron said at the time that the first Rafales were expected to fly in Ukrainian skies in 2028 or 2029. In November last year Kyiv had signed a letter of intent for up to 100 Rafales from Dassault Aviation, a month after a similar letter with Sweden for up to 150 Gripens from Saab.
The July agreement also provides for a first batch of SAMP/T NG air defence batteries with missiles, as well as licences to produce in Ukraine the AASM glide-bomb kit, the Aster 30 interceptor that arms the SAMP/T, and the SCALP/Storm Shadow cruise missile. Vautrin said the licensing process for the missiles is under way. Ukraine already uses an earlier version of the Franco-Italian SAMP/T with MBDA Aster missiles and Safran’s AASM Hammer glide bomb.
The Ukrainian Air Force fleet
The Ukrainian Air Force has received F-16s from several European countries and Mirage 2000s from France. In May Kyiv agreed to buy 20 new Gripens, while Sweden will donate 16 of an older version. The Rafale would bring Ukraine MBDA’s long-range Meteor air-to-air missile, which analysts regard as one of the best in Western air forces, as well as an advanced electronic warfare suite and a Thales radar, upgraded to the F4.1 standard, which was certified in March 2023.
Greece is among the Rafale’s first export customers, with 24 aircraft in the Hellenic Air Force’s 332 Squadron at Tanagra, armed with Meteor and SCALP missiles. The training of the Ukrainians is expected to take place at French bases, although Vautrin gave no details on the number of pilots or its duration.