Key facts
- France will allow Ukraine to produce French-designed AASM bombs, Aster air defense interceptors, and SCALP cruise missiles.
- This marks the first time France has licensed the production of its weapons in Ukraine.
- France will also transfer radar systems and deliver 16 Rafale fighter jets to Ukraine.
- Ukraine and nine European partners launched the Anti-Ballistic Missile Coalition to bolster missile defense capabilities.
France has granted Ukraine a license to domestically produce French-designed weapons, including AASM guided bombs, Aster air defense interceptors, and SCALP cruise missiles. This agreement, formalized by French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, marks a significant expansion of bilateral defense cooperation.
In addition to the production license, Ukraine will acquire 16 Rafale fighter jets, financed through an EU loan facility, with training for pilots and mechanics potentially beginning in France in 2026. Ukraine also plans to purchase four next-generation SAMP/T-NG air and missile defense systems, becoming the first country to deploy this Franco-Italian system. Older versions of the SAMP/T system will be dispatched to Ukraine until the new ones are delivered.
The move builds on a broader European initiative to bolster missile defense capabilities as Russia intensifies its attacks on Ukrainian cities. France and Italy have authorized licensed production of Aster 30 interceptor missiles in Ukraine, while France has approved local production of AASM guided bombs and SCALP cruise missiles. This follows a similar U.S. agreement granting Ukraine a license to produce Patriot missiles.