Overview
- Ukraine’s Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov and French Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin signed a Letter of Intent on Feb. 9 to launch joint weapons production in both countries.
- The agreement opens large-scale defense‑industry projects that include developing innovative electronic warfare systems and testing security solutions with Ukrainian firms.
- France will provide a replacement SAMP/T radar while another is under repair, and it is coordinating with MBDA on missile supplies after the company doubled output in 2024–2025.
- Kyiv seeks continued deliveries of SAMP/T, Mistral, and Crotale systems with ammunition, and the partners agreed to work on SAMP/T upgrades to better counter ballistic threats.
- Vautrin reaffirmed Rafale commitments under the EU SAFE instrument as the sides discussed accelerating Mirage 2000 deliveries and supplies of AASM Hammer, SCALP, and Aster missiles, while Zelensky said Ukraine has agreements for 150 new Gripen and 100 new Rafale jets.