After a call with Emmanuel Macron, Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukrainian pilots will shortly start training on the Rafale in France.
On 5 October, after a call with French President Emmanuel Macron, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukrainian pilots will soon begin training on French Rafale fighter jets in France. He called it a strong step for Ukraine's combat aviation. Volunteers Support Ukraine looks at what is known.
According to Zelensky, the two discussed Russia's "terrorist escalation" and Ukraine's defence needs. New defence deliveries are being prepared and Kyiv expects a new package soon. They also covered localising the production of French missiles and aerial bombs in Ukraine and the progress of the FREYJA system; the details are to be discussed at an in-person meeting.
Macron wrote that they talked about concrete support to help Ukraine intercept Russian drones. "We will not yield to Russia's intimidation or its escalation. Make no mistake: time is working against Russia," he said.
Macron previously said France would supply Ukraine with 16 Rafale jets, plus radars and missiles. According to LIGA.net, standard retraining of an experienced combat pilot on the Rafale in France takes about five months.
Training crews is a prerequisite for new equipment to become real strength in the sky. NGO Volunteers Support Ukraine keeps helping people affected by the war within the limits of its resources.
