What You Need to Know: Ukraine is set to receive French-made Dassault Mirage 2000-5 multirole fighters in the first half of 2025, according to French Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu. The French Air Force is currently modifying the jets to enhance air-to-ground combat capabilities and electronic warfare systems, aligning them with the needs of the ongoing conflict, which lacks air-to-air combat scenarios.

-Ukrainian pilots and mechanics are being trained in France to operate these aircraft.

-While the exact number of jets remains undisclosed, the delivery will complement the 90 U.S.-made F-16 Fighting Falcons Ukraine is slated to receive from several NATO nations, bolstering its defense against Russian aggression.

French Mirage 2000s Could be in Ukraine Next Year

The Ukrainian Air Force is on track to receive upwards of 90 U.S.-made F-16 Fighting Falcons, with the jets coming from several NATO nations, and next year it will also receive an undisclosed number of French-made Dassault Mirage 2000-5 multirole fighters.

Earlier this year, Paris had pledged to send the combat aircraft to aid Kyiv's war effort, and this week Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu told the Sud Ouest news outlet that the "Mirage 2000s could be flying in Ukraine in the first half of 2025."

The French Air Force is now "tweaking" the jets, Politico reported citing Lecornu. The efforts are to ensure the aircraft are best suited for the ongoing conflict, which hasn't seen "air-to-air combat." Instead, most combat aircraft are being employed in ground support roles, and to counter missiles and drones. The F-16s have already been used in such a role with considerable success.

"The aim is to equip them with air-to-ground combat capabilities. And to reinforce their electronic warfare system. But most important of all is the training of pilots and mechanics, which continues in Nancy," the French minister added.

Paris hasn't indicated how many Mirage 2000-5 fighters could be sent, and that is likely to keep Moscow guessing on the capabilities of the Ukrainian Air Force next year. According to Politico, delivery of the French-made fighters will depend on the training – as Ukraine's pilots will need to learn a new system, just as many did with the F-16s. The training on the Mirage 2000-5 will reportedly take place in France.

The French military has also pledged to provide infantry training to upwards of 4,500 Ukrainian soldiers.

Not an Illusion

As previously reported, the French-based Dassault produced a total of 601 Mirage 2000s in all configurations between 1978 and 2007. During that timeframe, it served as the backbone of the French Air Force while further scoring success in the export market. Moreover, though it bore a superficial resemblance to the dynasty of Dassault's "delta-winged" fighters that preceded it, the aircraft featured marked advances over the earlier Mirages in structure, aerodynamics, propulsion, and systems.

The Mirage 2000 features CCV (controls configured vehicles) technology, including fly-by-wire (FWB) controls that offer instant response to pilot input. The aircraft has been steadily updated, and the first "second generation" Mirage 2000 was introduced in 1990 as the Mirage 2000-5, an export-optimized multirole combat aircraft. Initially tested as a two-seater, it was subsequently joined by a single-seat model.

One of the advanced features of the Mirage 2000-5 is its Thales RDY multi-mode radar, which was further complemented by a modernized cockpit, improved self-defense suite, and new MICA air-to-air missiles as well as a variety of guided and unguided air-to-surface ordnance.

Around 300 Mirage 2000s are reported to be in service with the French Air Force at this time, but those fighters are now being replaced by the advanced Dassault Rafale omni-role fighter.

Author Experience and Expertise: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].

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