KYIV — March 5, 2026 : Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine is preparing initial financial down payments to secure future deliveries of advanced Western fighter aircraft, including the Saab JAS 39 Gripen and the Dassault Rafale. The move represents the next step in Kyiv’s long-term effort to modernize the Ukrainian Air Force and gradually replace its remaining Soviet-era aircraft fleet with Western platforms.
Speaking during a press briefing in Kyiv on March 5, Zelenskyy said Ukraine must begin making advance payments from its own resources to secure the aircraft procurement programs. The issue was discussed a day earlier during consultations with Ukraine’s Defense Minister, as well as in meetings involving the Cabinet of Ministers and the Verkhovna Rada.
“We must have a down payment from the already Ukrainian side regarding future aviation, regarding Gripen and Rafale,” Zelenskyy said, referring to the two Western fighter programs under consideration.
The planned payments are intended to secure production slots and advance planning for deliveries of the aircraft, which are expected to become a core part of Ukraine’s future air combat capability.
Fighter Procurement Framework
Ukraine’s plans for the two aircraft types are based on letters of intent signed with Sweden and France in late 2025.
On October 22, 2025, Ukraine and Sweden signed an agreement outlining the potential acquisition of between 100 and 150 Saab JAS 39 Gripen E fighters produced by Saab AB. The aircraft would form a major component of Ukraine’s long-term air force structure.
Initial deliveries may involve older Gripen C/D aircraft currently in Swedish service in order to provide earlier operational capability. These aircraft could begin arriving as early as 2026, according to Ukrainian officials. The Gripen platform is known for its relatively low operating costs and its ability to operate from dispersed bases or improvised runways, which has been viewed as an advantage for Ukraine’s wartime environment.
The agreement with Sweden also includes provisions for pilot and ground crew training beginning in 2026. Ukrainian officials have indicated that domestic assembly of Gripen aircraft in Ukraine could begin around 2033 as part of a broader industrial cooperation plan.
A separate agreement was reached with France in November 2025 regarding the potential purchase of up to 100 Dassault Rafale F4 aircraft manufactured by Dassault Aviation. Deliveries are planned over roughly a ten-year period with completion targeted by 2035.
The broader French defense cooperation framework includes additional systems such as SAMP/T air-defense batteries, radar systems, air-to-air missiles, guided aerial bombs, and joint development of drones. Joint production of interceptor drones under the agreement is expected to begin in 2026.
Financing and European Support
The down payment preparations are tied to Ukraine’s broader effort to finance large defense procurement programs through a mix of domestic funding and international assistance.
Zelenskyy indicated that Ukraine is counting on financial support mechanisms involving the European Union, including a proposed €90 billion loan package that would be partially backed by frozen Russian state assets held in Europe.
The Ukrainian president noted that approval of the first tranche of this funding has faced delays due to political objections within the EU. While Zelenskyy did not name the official involved, international observers widely interpreted the comment as referring to Viktor Orbán, who has previously blocked or delayed several EU financial initiatives related to Ukraine.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine hopes the political dispute will be resolved so that the funding can be released and defense procurement programs can move forward.
Additional financing options under discussion include export credit arrangements, bilateral defense aid frameworks, and loans supported by European partners. Sweden has also indicated a willingness to support financing mechanisms through its military aid programs.
Air Force Modernization Strategy
The Gripen and Rafale acquisition programs are part of a broader modernization plan aimed at transforming Ukraine’s air force into a Western-standard combat force.
Ukraine has already begun integrating donated Western aircraft, including the F-16 Fighting Falcon and the Dassault Mirage 2000, into its operational structure. These aircraft have been delivered through military assistance packages from allied countries.
Officials say the planned Swedish and French fighter fleets would complement those platforms and provide Ukraine with a diversified inventory of modern multirole aircraft capable of conducting air defense, strike missions, and long-range interception.
Zelenskyy has previously described the Gripen and Rafale aircraft as among the most capable Western fighters available and said they are intended to form the backbone of Ukraine’s future air defense capability.
No specific figures for the planned down payments have been disclosed, and firm production contracts or final delivery schedules have not yet been publicly confirmed. Ukrainian officials have indicated that the initial financial commitments are primarily intended to secure the procurement process and allow production planning to proceed.
If implemented as outlined, the combined acquisitions could eventually provide Ukraine with up to 250 new Western-built fighter aircraft over the next decade.
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