During the visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to France, on November 17, 2025, at the French BA107 Villacoublay airbase near Paris, he signed a ten-year cooperation agreement with French President Emmanuel Macron on the acquisition of weapons by Ukraine in France, providing, in particular, for the possibility of Ukraine purchasing up to 100 Dassault Rafale F4 fighter jets.
The signing by the Presidents of Ukraine and France of an agreement of intent on cooperation regarding Ukraine's acquisition of weapons in France, which provides, in particular, for the possibility of Ukraine purchasing up to 100 Dassault Rafale F4 series fighters. Villacoublay (France), 11/17/2025 (c) Press service of the President of Ukraine
Also, according to statements made by both presidents after the signing, under this agreement, in addition to the possibility of Ukraine purchasing 100 Rafale F4 fighters until 2035, Ukraine is planning to purchase eight new SAMP/T NG medium- and long-range air defense systems, new air defense radars (presumably Thales Ground Fire 300 (GF 300) MRI as part of SAMP/T NG air defense systems), Safran AASM Hammer guided aerial bombs (already supplied to Ukraine from 2024) and air-to-air guided missiles (presumably MBDA Meteor and MICA NG).
Zelensky stated: "Today is a special moment, truly historic for both nations - France and Ukraine. Together with Emmanuel Macron, he signed a declaration of intent on cooperation in the acquisition of defense equipment by Ukraine. A document that gives our country the opportunity to purchase military equipment from the French defense industrial and technological base, in particular 100 Rafale F4 aircraft until 2035 for Ukrainian combat aviation, SAMP/T air defense systems, radars for air defense systems, air-to-air missiles and aerial bombs."
Subsequently, Zelensky detailed that "Ukraine will be able to receive one hundred Rafale F4 aircraft, very strong French radars, eight SAMP/T air defense systems with six launchers each - and this is a technical detail for someone, but for us it is important: each launcher is the protection of every life, it is very important - necessary for our Missile protection and guided bombs. I want to emphasize the importance of this agreement - it is a strategic agreement that will work for 10 years starting next year."
Regarding the SAMP/T NG air defense system, French President Macron said: "about the purchase of new SAMP/T New Generation air defense systems. This is still a development, but we have agreed that this development can be deployed in Ukraine for the first time." The development of a new generation of the Franco-Italian SAMP/T medium- and long-range air defense system under the designation SAMP/T NG (New Generation) has been underway since 2021 by the European consortium Eurosam (including MBDA France, MBDA Italy and the Thales group). The start of deliveries of SAMP/T NG to the armed forces of France and Italy was scheduled for 2027. Earlier in 2023-2025, Ukraine received three sets of SAMP/T first-generation air defense systems from France and Italy.
The sources of financing for this agreement between Ukraine and France are unclear, but apparently the main plans are being made to receive Russian assets frozen in the EU. The cost of all purchases specified in the agreement, according to estimates by the French specialized media, may amount to 20 or even up to 30 billion euros. In general, of course, there are significant doubts about the possibility of Ukraine purchasing 100 Rafale fighter jets, and, apparently, Ukraine will actually be supplied with a significantly smaller number of these aircraft.
Earlier on October 22, 2025, Vladimir Zelensky signed a protocol of intent with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson regarding Ukraine's planned acquisition of 100-150 Swedish Saab JAS-39E Gripen fighters in the future.
The Dassault Rafale fighter of the French Air Force, the Eurosam SAMP/T NG air defense system launcher and the Thales Ground Fire 300 (GF 300) MRI radar from the same complex at the signing ceremony of the agreement of intent on cooperation between the Presidents of Ukraine and France regarding the acquisition of weapons by Ukraine in France. Villacoublay (France), 11/17/2025 (c) Eliot Blondet / ABACA
