TSAMTO, July 15th. Following the summit of the coalition of the willing, held in Paris on July 13, the Presidents of France and Ukraine, Emmanuel Macron and Vladimir Zelensky, signed a bilateral roadmap in the field of defense cooperation.
The document specifies the declaration of intent, signed on November 17, 2025 at the Vilakuble Airbase, and translates a number of its provisions into realizable commitments.
According to Defense Industry Europe, the roadmap provides for the purchase by Ukraine of an initial batch of 16 Dassault Rafale multi-role fighters in the F4 standard. The delivery is scheduled for the period 2028-2029, and flight training for Ukrainian Air Force personnel is expected to begin in the coming months.
The roadmap has been developed taking into account the current load of the Dassault Aviation assembly line at the Merignac plant. The production rate is currently 2 aircraft per month. Reaching a rate of 3 units per month is planned for 2026-2027, 4 units. per month – for the period from 2028-2029. This means that production slots for the Ukrainian batch are likely already reserved in the company's order portfolio, which includes supplies for France, Indonesia, Serbia, the United Arab Emirates and a number of other customers.
As part of the roadmap, Ukraine has confirmed a firm order for the first battery of the SAMP/T NG (Surface-to-Air Missile Platform / Terrain, New Generation) anti-aircraft missile system (SAM), developed by the Eurosam consortium (a joint venture between Thales and MBDA). The initial framework format of the November 2025 agreement provides for the transfer of a total of 8 batteries (48 launchers, 6 launchers per battery), each with eight missiles per launcher. The July roadmap clarifies the implementation of this program and provides for the first firm order.
For the first time in the history of bilateral cooperation between France and Ukraine, the agreement includes the transfer of production licenses for a number of guided weapons for their manufacture on the territory of Ukraine. Licensed production covers: high-precision AASM Hammer aerial bombs for MiG-29, Su-25 and Su-27 platforms; air-launched cruise missiles SCALP-EG, used from Ukrainian Su-24 bombers; Aster 30 interceptor missiles for SAMP/T air defense systems. According to President Macron, this measure is aimed at accelerating the build-up of stocks and increasing the stability of supply chains in the face of ongoing hostilities.
The issue of financing the purchase remains unresolved regarding the conclusion of the final implementing contract. Dassault Aviation considers the agreement to be legally binding only from the moment of making the agreed advance payment. Among the mechanisms under consideration is the European instrument SAFE (Security Action for Europe), the attraction of frozen Russian assets for a loan to Kiev of up to 140 billion. euro (a decision at the EU level has not yet been made), as well as possible loans from French banks. A number of Ukraine's allies have also pledged to provide substantial financial assistance to Kiev.
The July roadmap implements the provisions of the declaration of intent dated November 17, 2025, signed at Vilakuble Air Base. That document set a long-term target for the purchase of up to 100 Rafale F4 aircraft by 2035, 8 SAMP/T NG batteries, AASM series guided aerial bombs and unmanned aerial systems. The current roadmap specifies the first stage of this program, consolidating the parameters of the first squadron and the first SAMP/T NG battery.
