Macron announces Ukraine order of Rafale jets, SAMP/T batteries and Scalp missile licences

Paris – Ukrainian officials have placed an order for 16 Dassault Rafale fighter jets, an initial batch of new‑generation SAMP/T surface‑to‑air defence batteries, and licences to produce several advanced capabilities, including the SCALP cruise missile, French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Monday. The declaration came after a gathering of more than 20 leaders from the “Coalition of the Willing,” a group convened in Paris to coordinate additional military assistance for Kyiv amid the ongoing conflict with Russia.

The French commitments expand the coalition’s support framework, adding both air‑combat and air‑defence assets to Ukraine’s arsenal. The Rafale jets and SAMP/T batteries are slated for delivery under existing bilateral agreements, while the production licences will enable Ukrainian industry to manufacture the SCALP missile and related systems domestically. The announcements underscore Paris’s intent to deepen its role in bolstering Ukraine’s defensive capabilities as the war continues.