French President Emmanuel Macron announced a new defense cooperation plan with Ukraine, including the future delivery of 16 Rafale fighter jets and the provision of licenses for the domestic production of French missiles.
Key points
- The first Rafale fighter jets are expected to be operational in Ukrainian airspace by 2028–2029.
- Ukraine will receive licenses to produce Aster missiles for SAMP/T air defense systems and other munitions.
- Multilateral forces will conduct military exercises in countries neighboring Ukraine in the coming months to test deployment plans.
- The initiatives are part of a broader effort to strengthen Ukraine's long-term defense and anti-ballistic capabilities.
Why it matters
This agreement marks a significant escalation in Western military support for Ukraine, shifting from direct equipment transfers to long-term industrial and technological cooperation for domestic defense production.
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