Ukraine will receive 250 of the world’s best aircraft: Zelensky makes new statement
8 February 19:06
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that Ukraine has agreements in place for the supply of new combat aircraft. Specifically, these are Swedish Gripen and French Rafale aircraft.
According to "Komersant Ukrainian", Zelensky made this statement during a conversation with teachers and students at the Kyiv Aviation Institute.
“Ukraine currently has agreements to supply 150 Gripen military aircraft and 100 Rafale aircraft to Ukraine. In our opinion, these are the best aircraft in the world. Of course, there are also F-16s. The Ukrainian Air Force currently has F-16s in service, but they are not new. The aircraft I mentioned are new,” the president said.
The head of state also announced that after the war ends, Ukraine will restore and develop civil aviation.
“We will revive civil aviation, we will develop it, but we will definitely end the war and focus on this area as well,” he concluded.
Aviation supplies to Ukraine
Recall that back in October 2025, Zelensky announced that Ukraine was working on a large-scale program to develop combat aviation. Even then, he outlined that the goal was to form a fleet of 250 modern aircraft, including F-16s, Gripens, and Rafales.
In particular, on November 17, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and French President Emmanuel Macron signed a declaration of intent on a large-scale strengthening of Ukrainian aviation and air defense.
This document provided for possible future contracts for Ukraine to purchase about 100 French Rafale aircraft. In December, Zelensky met with the CEO of the manufacturing company, Eric Trappier.
It should also be noted that in October 2025, Yuriy Ignat, head of the Air Force Communications Department, said that Ukraine had long been considering the purchase of Swedish Gripen fighters. He explained that they were the best choice because in some respects these aircraft were better than the American F-16s.
