Contracts for Gripen and Rafale Include Plans for Localization in Ukraine

Contracts for the delivery of foreign-made aircraft to Ukraine’s Air Force include provisions for localizing their production and maintenance in Ukraine.

Ukrainian Air Force Aviation Commander Col. Oleksandr Diakiv said this in a report on the development and prospects of the service branch.

“As for production localization, the major companies that are ready to supply us with aircraft are ready to localize production in Ukraine. They are ready to help us, but, as you understand, this can only be done under appropriate security conditions,” he said.

According to Diakiv, relocating aircraft repair facilities to Ukraine under current conditions, “when enemy air attack weapons can reach Uzhhorod, Chernivtsi and Lviv,” does not make sense for now.

“But our partners are ready for this. And I will tell you: this is stipulated in the contracts for the supply of foreign-made aircraft that we already have. And we will do this in Ukraine,” he said.

Gripen and Rafale Fighters for Ukraine

On June 30, 2026, Sweden and Ukraine signed an agreement to purchase the first 16 Gripen E fighters for the Ukrainian Air Force. Deliveries of the aircraft are scheduled to begin in early 2029.

Ukraine ultimately seeks to purchase between 100 and 150 JAS 39 Gripen E/F fighters. In addition to purchasing the aircraft, Ukraine and Sweden have agreed to localize production in Ukraine.

Under preliminary plans, production of the fighters is to be established at Ukrainian facilities starting in 2033. The project will cover a broad range of work, from assembly of major components to the manufacture of individual parts.

In November 2025, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and French President Emmanuel Macron signed a declaration of intent on defense cooperation during a meeting at the Vélizy-Villacoublay Air Base.

The document provides for the purchase of up to 100 Rafale F4 multirole aircraft for the Ukrainian Air Force by 2035. The two sides also agreed on the possible transfer of technology and establishment of joint production in Ukraine.

In December, a Ukrainian delegation met with the CEO of aerospace company Dassault Aviation and discussed the possibility of localizing Rafale production.

On July 13, 2026, France and Ukraine agreed on the sale of an initial batch of 16 Rafale fighters. Ukraine is expected to receive the first French fighters in 2028-2029.