The President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi revealed that negotiations with France are underway to acquire Dassault Rafale fighter jets. Although this decision is often presented as the best option in terms of permits, restrictions, and dependence, things are not as simple as they seem.
A key advantage of the aircraft is that it is built entirely from French components. It is practically the only aircraft of its kind in Europe, giving it considerable strategic autonomy in many areas.
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Zelenskyi noted that the Rafale issue would only need to be negotiated with France, which makes the process considerably more convenient. For instance, the Gripen depends on a number of imported components, such as American engines, while the Eurofighter Typhoon requires approval from all consortium member countries.
This issue is mentioned less frequently, but the French are generally more flexible regarding arms export restrictions. Although this may carry risks in terms of security, it also potentially gives operators more freedom.
It should be noted that producing all components within one country facilitates tighter control over supply chains. This should help avoid situations like the one with India's Tejas, where production was delayed due to a foreign contractor issue.
However, it is often overlooked that while the Rafale is independent from other countries, it remains highly dependent on France. This applies not only to maintenance, but also to the entire infrastructure and armament.
In other words, if a less friendly government comes to power, such combat aircraft can present a significant challenge. Naturally, the local defense industry may be able to prevent such a development through lobbying, though even its influence has limits.
Such a development is realistic, given the rather unstable political situation in France. Pro-Ukrainian centrists are currently in power, but pro-russian left- and right-wing forces are gaining popularity, posing a threat in the future.
Ukraine has already suffered from the U.S. restrictions on the use of American-made weapons. Therefore, the argument for diversifying the arsenal in areas lacking a domestic alternative is reasonable.
However, while Gripen and F-16 rely on a wide range of available components and NATO-standard weapons, Rafale is almost entirely French. This may also be constrained by the local defense industry's production capacity, unless partial localization is achieved.
Although the Dassault fighter jet is one of the most affordable options in terms of permits, it could still create greater dependence and restrictions—albeit on a single country. In other words, this reason alone is unlikely to turn Ukraine's aircraft fleet into an even bigger "zoo" or significantly complicate maintenance, especially given multi-decade procurement plans.
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