New Jets, New Problems: 100-Rafale Deal Requires Massive Infrastructure Build-Up

Ukraine’s “historical” letter of intent for 100 French Rafale jets is a massive strategic victory, but it also creates an enormous logistical and engineering challenge. A person familiar with the sensitive plans confirmed that the delivery of the first jets is not only dependent on pilot training but also on the development and construction of the necessary ground infrastructure to support the new fleet.
This means Ukraine must build new runways, hardened aircraft shelters, maintenance depots, and supply chains capable of handling the sophisticated French aircraft. This infrastructure must be built even as the country is under constant threat of Russian missile and glide bomb attacks, making it a monumental undertaking.
This logistical reality underscores the long-term, 10-year nature of the pact signed by President Zelensky in Paris. This is not a “plug-and-play” solution. It is a decade-long project to completely rebuild a branch of the Ukrainian military with French technology, a process that will run parallel to the integration of F-16s.
The pact does, however, provide more immediate help. It includes eight units of the “world-class” SAMP/T air defense system, which Zelensky praised as “one of the greatest.” These systems can be deployed far more quickly to protect the very infrastructure being built for the Rafales.
This entire long-term endeavor is being underwritten by European allies, following the halt of US aid by the Trump administration. Funding will be sourced from the EU’s €150 billion SAFE loan fund and a G7-backed mechanism to deploy future revenues from immobilized Russian assets.