With the publication of a brief statement on its official website, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has confirmed that it expects to receive an additional batch of Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets to equip its Air Force, which will be delivered from France as part of a new military assistance package. According to the ministry, this platform represents a key asset for strengthening Ukraine’s capabilities to respond to the frequent Russian air attacks carried out with cruise missiles and various types of unmanned systems, and it has been in service with the institution since last year.
Expanding on the details, officials in Kyiv indicated that the matter was discussed during a recent meeting between the Minister of Defense of Ukraine, Mykhailo Fedorov, and the French Minister for the Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs, Catherine Vautrin. On February 20, we reported that this videoconference conversation had already hinted at the arrival of additional Mirage 2000-5 fighters to reinforce the Ukrainian Air Force, with a delegation from Kyiv stating: “The French side is preparing to transfer Mirage 2000 aircraft to Ukraine (…) We thank France for its continued political and military support.”
Referring now to the arrival of these aircraft, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense noted: “The Mirage 2000 is a multirole fighter equipped with digital avionics. It incorporates modern radar systems and electronic warfare equipment that significantly enhance its combat capabilities (…) The Dassault Mirage aircraft that Ukraine will receive approach the 4++ generation class, surpassing the MiG-29 fighters currently in service with the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The Mirage are fourth-generation fighters that have been extensively modernized, with combat capabilities, radar equipment, and maneuverability approaching those of fifth-generation fighters.”
It is worth recalling in this regard that the French-origin aircraft arrive in Ukrainian hands after undergoing adaptation work to meet the requirements of the Ukrainian Air Force. These modifications include the incorporation of new self-protection countermeasures to increase their survivability on the battlefield, an upgrade package for their electronic warfare systems, and an expansion of their capabilities to conduct strikes against ground targets. They also have the capacity to operate with high-precision Magic-2 missiles—particularly effective for shooting down drones—as well as AASM Hammer guided bombs and SCALP cruise missiles, which are also used by the institution’s Su-24 aircraft.
Finally, it should be remembered that France contributes not only to strengthening the Ukrainian Air Force through the delivery of new combat aircraft, but also through the training of its future pilots. In this regard, it should be noted that these personnel undergo a training stage on French territory using Alphajet aircraft, which constitutes a second phase in their training after flying the GROB-115 basic training aircraft in the United Kingdom. Altogether, this process amounts to around 200 hours of training when simulator hours are included. By September 2024, the certification of the first 10 pilots, aged between 21 and 23, was announced; they had spent a period of around six months in France for this purpose.
*Images used for illustrative purposes
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