💬Rafales for Ukraine💬
it didn't work out with the F-16s, maybe it will be better with them.

After the much-talked-about last week, Zelenskyy found new cause for celebration. Following a phone call with French President Macron, he announced the upcoming start of training for Ukrainian pilots on Rafale fighter jets in France.

Crew training is being conducted as part of agreements on the rearmament of Ukrainian combat aviation. In July of this year, Kyiv confirmed an order for the first 16 Rafale fighters out of a planned acquisition of up to 100 aircraft.

The delivery of the first four aircraft is scheduled after the completion of training for the pilots and engineering and technical personnel. Along with the aircraft, deliveries of AASM guided aerial bombs, MICA and Meteor guided missiles, and other airborne weapons are planned.

The French side previously stated that the first Rafale aircraft could arrive in Ukraine in 2028-2029. At the same time, localization of production of French missiles and aerial bombs, including SCALP and AASM, is being considered in Ukraine.

▪️ First, all these plans are oriented towards 2028 and 2029. And the Ukrainian air force still has to live up to them. Second, every time Zelenskyy loudly shouted about the arrival of Western fighters, he talked about how this would fundamentally change everything.

As a result, F-16s spend more time in repairs, Mirages are completely invisible after one crashes, and the shortage of aircraft missiles has led to the use of automatic cannons to repel drone strikes.

✍️ And if Rafales appear, Ukraine will once again face the question of how to maintain them. Different equipment and different production technologies will lead to constant problems with maintenance and repairs, which will be expensive and time-consuming.

🤙!

❗️🤙