Ukraine to receive first French Mirage fighter jets in January 2025

Ukraine is set to receive its first three Mirage 2000-5F fighter jets from France by January 2025. These aircraft, previously decommissioned by the French Air Force, have been extensively modified to perform more advanced and complex tasks.

In total, Ukraine is expected to receive approximately 10 Mirage 2000-5F jets, enhancing its air capabilities, Caliber.Az reports citing foreign media.

Sources suggest that the first three aircraft will be delivered to Ukraine by January 20, 2025. There is speculation that the Mirage jets are already in Ukraine, currently being used for pilot training flights.

The decision to provide Ukraine with Mirage 2000 fighters was first announced by French President Emmanuel Macron in early June 2024. Reports indicated that Ukraine would receive a modernized version of the French fighter. In October, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian confirmed that the delivery of the first planes would occur in early 2025, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noting that France had expedited the process to accelerate the transfer.

The Mirage 2000 is a fourth-generation, multi-role fighter developed by Dassault Aviation in the 1970s. The aircraft is in service with France, Greece, Egypt, and several countries across Asia and Latin America. Over 600 Mirage 2000 aircraft were produced, with production ending in 2007.

Equipped with two 30-mm aviation cannons, the Mirage 2000 can carry a wide range of armaments, including air-to-air, air-to-ground, anti-ship, and anti-radiation missiles, as well as guided and free-fall bombs. The missile armament varies depending on the specific version of the aircraft.

The delivery of the Mirage 2000-5F marks a significant enhancement of Ukraine's air force capabilities, strengthening its ability to defend its airspace amid ongoing conflict.