Paris has begun training the first Ukrainian pilots to fly French Rafale fighter jets ahead of their possible transfer to Ukraine, Minister Delegate for Europe Benjamin Haddad said, reports Le Parisien.
According to a French government official, Paris is currently negotiating with Kyiv about sending Rafale fighters, which will be flown directly by Ukrainian crews.
France has already launched a corresponding training program.
According to a French government official, Paris is currently negotiating with Kyiv about sending Rafale fighters, which will be flown directly by Ukrainian crews.
France has already launched a corresponding training program.
"We are currently negotiating with the Ukrainians about sending Rafales, piloted not by French pilots, but by Ukrainian ones," stated Addad.
The process of training military aviators follows the traditional Air Force path.
First, pilots train on light Grob G-120TP training aircraft, then switch to advanced Dornier Alpha Jet jets, and only then master complex fighter jets.
Ukraine may receive the first four aircraft immediately after the completion of this training course.
In July, France and Ukraine announced the conclusion of a "roadmap" outlining the acquisition of 16 Rafale fighter jets and their armament.
According to French President Emmanuel Macron, the first of them should fly in Ukrainian airspace as early as 2028-2029.
In addition, a letter of intent signed in November 2025 provides for a possible expansion of the order to 100 fighters over the next decade.
At the same time, aerospace analysts note that the project remains shrouded in uncertainty.
Currently, no firm contract has been signed between the parties, and the 2028-2029 timeframe is very tight given Dassault Aviation's current capacity of three aircraft per month.
The cost and financing structure of this deal also remain uncertain.
