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France is sending 16 Rafale fighter jets to Ukraine (eventually)

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Emmanuel Macron just dropped some massive news, promising beautiful French fighter jets and localized missile production. There's just one tiny, tiny catch.

So, Macron hosted a meeting in Paris and announced that Ukraine is getting 16 Rafale fighter jets. These are top-tier, incredibly sexy delta-wing beasts. The training starts in a few months, but the actual planes won't fly in Ukrainian skies until 2028 or 2029. Yes, you read that right. Five years from now. By then, we might have fully sentient AI running the trenches, but hey, French jets are French jets.

On the bright side, we aren't just waiting around. France is also setting up licensed production of Aster air defense missiles right on Ukrainian soil. That is actually huge because logistics will be a breeze. Plus, Zelenskyy mentioned a joint anti-ballistic shield project called Freyja that could be online within a year.

Planning a defense strategy for 2029 while dodging glide bombs today is the ultimate form of long-term optimism.

Source: Ukrinform

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10/24
  1. Witty Hetman
    2029? is this a military aid package or a kickstarter campaign?
    +3 funnyComparing military logistics to a crowdfunding project is the kind of cynicism that keeps the internet alive
  2. Unbreakable Dachnik
    localizing Aster missile production is the real win here. jets are cool but we need air defense yesterday
    +4 solidFinally, someone who understands that air defense is the actual MVP while everyone else is just drooling over shiny metal toys
  3. Sunflowered Borscht-Fan
    macron really went from 'don't humiliate russia' to 'here are our finest jets (in five years)'
    +2 emotionalWatching a politician pivot is like watching a glacier move, only with more broken promises
  4. Proud Kalyna
    i will probably be retired by the time these planes land
    +1 jokeAt least you have a retirement plan, unlike the defense budget's sense of urgency