France to Offer Rafale Jets, SAMP/T Air Defense System to Countries Considering F-35, Patriot

French President Emmanuel Macron has called for European nations to reduce their dependence on U.S. defense systems by promoting European-made alternatives, including the Rafale fighter jet and the SAMP/T air defense system.

Speaking to French defense industry leaders, Macron said Europe must strengthen its industrial base to achieve greater strategic autonomy. He emphasized the need to offer the French-Italian SAMP/T system as an alternative to the U.S.-made Patriot system and to position the Rafale fighter jet as an option for countries considering the F-35.

“We should offer the new generation SAMP/T to those who purchase Patriot. We should offer Rafale to those who purchase F-35. Thus, we will increase our production speed,” Macron said.

He also pointed to Portugal as a potential buyer for European-made fighter jets instead of replacing its aging F-16s with the F-35. However, he acknowledged that Rafale production was limited by industrial constraints at Dassault Aviation and its suppliers.

Macron stressed the importance of balancing exports with national defense needs and urged European nations to collaborate on defense spending and procurement. He endorsed German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s plan to increase military spending by €100 billion and highlighted the European Union’s role in funding joint defense programs.

The French president announced that 27 European nations had approved an €800 billion rearmament plan, with €150 billion allocated in loans. A White Paper on the Future of European Defence is set to be presented on March 19, detailing implementation timelines for the ReArm Europe initiative.

Macron also proposed a new Franco-German debt fund to support defense investments, linking next week’s European Council meeting to ongoing military funding discussions.