The Date Of The First Training Courses For Ukrainian Pilots On Rafale Fighter Jets Has Been Announced

• 30.10.2026, 6:30

To strengthen the Ukrainian Armed Forces' Air Force, Ukraine plans to purchase 100 Rafale fighter jets.

The first training courses for Ukrainian pilots on French Rafale fighter jets will begin in November 2026. This information was announced by the head of the French Ministry of Defense Catherine Vautrin during parliamentary hearings.

In July, Kyiv and Paris agreed on a “roadmap” providing for Ukraine’s acquisition of 16 Rafale fighter jets and related weaponry.

That same month, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that the first Rafales should take to the skies over Ukraine as early as 2028–2029, and training flights were announced for the coming months.

Overall, to strengthen the Ukrainian Air Force, Ukraine plans to acquire 100 Rafale fighter jets.
The Rafale is a fourth-generation multi-role fighter jet developed by Dassault Aviation. The fighter is in high demand on the global market. In addition to France, it is in service with or has been contracted by the air forces of Egypt, India, Qatar, Greece, Serbia, the UAE, and Indonesia.

The fighter’s primary missions include intercepting targets, close-range air combat, strikes against ground targets, and strikes against maritime targets.

Within the French Air Force and Navy, the Rafale serves as a carrier of tactical nuclear weapons.