France delivers first Mirage 2000-5 fighters to Ukraine

The first French Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets promised to Ukraine have been delivered, the French Ministry of Armed Forces confirmed. 

“On June 6, 2024, Emmanuel Macron announced the delivery of French Mirage 2000s to Ukraine,” French Minister of the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu said in a post on X (formerly Twitter.) “The first of them arrived in Ukraine today. With Ukrainian pilots on board who have been trained for several months in France, they will now participate in defending the skies of Ukraine.”

The exact number of aircraft delivered was not specified, though previous reports said that France was set to supply three Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets to Ukraine during the first quarter of 2025.

Javier Rodríguez / Wikimedia CommonsThe Mirage 2000 is a French single-engined fighter jet made by Dassault Aviation. It can fly nearly 1,000 miles using just its internal fuel. Additionally, it can carry external fuel tanks that increase its combat range significantly. Currently, two French squadrons, 1/2 Cigognes and 3/11 Corse, operate the Mirage 2000-5, which Rafale fighters will eventually replace.

Though the 2000-5 is an air superiority variant, the French Air Force upgraded the aircraft at Cazaux Air Base in order to enhance their effectiveness in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.  

“It is a question of equipping them with air-to-ground combat capabilities. And to strengthen their electronic warfare system,” Lecornu said in an interview with Sud Ouest, published late on October 7, 2024. 

Key modifications include the capability to launch SCALP-EG/Storm Shadow cruise missiles—typically used from a twin-seat version, but also compatible with the single-seat Mirage 2000-9 developed for the United Arab Emirates.  

These jets will also be armed with MICA air-to-air missiles and AASM Hammer bombs, which have already been supplied to Ukraine for use with their MiG-29 fighters. Additionally, electronic warfare systems will be modernized to counter Russian jamming efforts.

The delivery of these Mirages marks the second Western fighter jet to be inducted by Ukraine’s military. Since early August 2024, Ukrainian pilots have been operating General Dynamics F-16 fighter jets supplied by European nations, including the Netherlands and Denmark.The post France delivers first Mirage 2000-5 fighters to Ukraine appeared first on AeroTime.

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