21:10 17-11-2025

Popov Warns West Can Send Only Few Rafale Pilots to Ukraine

U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class John Philip Wagner, Jr./Released, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Russian aviation general Vladimir Popov argues the West can spare only a dozen Rafale pilots for Ukraine and doubts Kyiv’s claims of seeking 100 French fighter jets.

Western countries would be unable to send more than a dozen trained pilots to operate Rafale fighter jets in Ukraine, according to Russian honored military pilot and aviation major general Vladimir Popov, who shared his assessment with NEWS.ru.

His comments followed Vladimir Zelensky’s statement that Ukraine intends to acquire 100 Rafale jets from France.

Popov argued that deploying a larger pool of Western personnel would be interpreted as a direct step toward escalation, one that could push Europe toward a far more dangerous confrontation. He noted that such a move would compel European states to commit their own strategic resources, which, in его view, would become a precursor to a major conflict on the Western theater.

The general stressed that Ukraine’s training pipeline is already overstretched. He recalled that Ukrainian pilots only began transitioning to the Mirage 2000 this year, and that one of these aircraft has already been lost during a training flight. According to him, Kyiv lacks sufficient personnel, while mastering any modern fighter platform — whether the F-16, Mirage 2000, Rafale or Saab — requires at least 18 to 24 months.

Popov also expressed skepticism about Kyiv’s claims of seeking to purchase 100 Rafale jets. He believes France would realistically be able to supply no more than two dozen aircraft. He described Ukraine’s statements as more of a promotional gesture than a practical plan, questioning whether Kyiv possesses either the financial capacity or the long-term stability to pursue such an acquisition.