Mirage 2000 Take to the Ukrainian Skies
France has delivered a number of Mirage 2000-5F fighter jets to the Ukrainian Air Force. As the war continues and Ukraine’s embattled airforce continues to conduct combat air patrols, strike missions and close air support for ground forces, the arrival of the Mirages represents both a practical capability enhancement and a morale boost.
Public confirmation of the Mirage 2000 jets being delivered was published by the social media account run by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense. The crews for the aircraft have reportedly been extensively trained in operation and maintenance in France since April 2024.
Transfer of the Mirage-2000 jets was caught by a plane spotter in Poland on 6 February, as the jets with no markings and fuel tanks flew over the Ukrainian border in the afternoon hours. Even though the Mirage-2000-5F sent to Ukraine represents the older generation of fighter jets, they provide the capability to conduct long-range precision air strikes with the SCALP guided missiles. Besides that the jets can also fill the gap in Ukrainian air-defense systems by conducting limited operations against drones and ballistic missiles.
Although the number of jets provided to Ukraine is unknown at this time it is estimated that 6 fighters are currently operating within the Ukrainian Air Force. This small but significant number of aircraft may be supplemented by future deliveries of the Mirage-2000-5F in the future. The 5F variant was the first major upgrade of the Mirage 2000C and entered service in 2000. At the time they were given cockpit displays upgrades as well as a radar upgrade to provide guidance information for MICA missiles. France still utilizes around 20 older types of Mirage fighter jets. The aircraft delivered to Ukraine have supposedly been upgraded and equipped with newer electronic warfare systems as well as integration with the AASM Hammer guided bombs, which France has been providing to Ukraine for some time. Besides SCALP and ASSMs that the French jets will also use MICA air-to-air missiles, which are the their main line of defense.