Ukraine to Produce French-Made Missiles
On Monday, President Emmanuel Macron announced that Ukraine will begin manufacturing French-made cruise missiles, precision-guided bombs, and air defense interceptor missiles, following a license granted to Kyiv by Paris.
This news came during the “Coalition of the Willing” meeting in Paris, which was attended by Macron, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, and several other European leaders. As Russia continues its invasion, Macron reiterated the commitment to support Ukraine and called for a ceasefire along with direct negotiations.
Macron shared that this license is a historic first for France, allowing Ukraine to produce specific military equipment, including the AASM precision-guided bomb, the Aster interceptor missile, and the SCALP air-launched cruise missile.
He also mentioned that this decision is part of a letter of intent signed in November 2025, which outlined Ukraine’s plans to acquire 100 aircraft over the next decade.
Additionally, the French President indicated that Ukraine has agreed to purchase 16 Rafale fighter jets from France, along with supplementary weaponry. The first Rafale jets are expected to be operational in Ukrainian skies by 2028 or 2029 at the earliest.
Reports suggest that Dassault Aviation is working to prioritize these Rafale deliveries despite already having a full order book.
During the Paris gathering, members including Denmark, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom established what they referred to as an “anti-ballistic missile coalition.” They collectively expressed their aim to enhance European defense against ballistic missile threats. The participating nations recognized Ukraine’s defense experience against Russia as vital to achieving this goal, but did not set a timeline for the ambitious project.
Macron’s revelation about Ukraine’s missile production arrived shortly after President Donald Trump announced at a NATO summit in Turkey that the U.S. would allow Ukraine to manufacture Patriot missiles. These missiles are particularly challenging to intercept due to their high-speed capabilities.
President Zelenskiy has been vocal in requesting more Patriot missiles from NATO allies, highlighting that many of these missiles are unused and could be better utilized. The authorization for Ukraine to produce its own Patriot missiles, as outlined by Trump, is a significant development in this context.
“We give them the right to make Patriots… It’s complicated, but it’s great, right?” Trump stated, suggesting that this would alleviate concerns about not providing enough support.
