France’s Ministry of Defense is planning to send the first tranche of French-made Mirage 2000 multi-role aircraft to Ukraine in the first half of 2025.
The military aid is part of Paris’ efforts to help Kyiv bolster its air defenses in response to Russia’s ongoing aggression on NATO’s eastern flank.
“The Mirage 2000s that will be delivered to Ukraine will be equipped with new equipment,” French Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu said in an interview with Bordeaux-based news agency Sud Ouest. “This transformation operation will take place at the Cazaux base in Gironde.”
“The aim is to equip them with air-to-ground combat capabilities and strengthen their electronic warfare system.”
“But the most important thing is the training of pilots and mechanics, which is continuing in Nancy.”
Ongoing Practice
French President Emmanuel Macron first revealed the Western European nation’s intention to deliver its proven Mirage jets to Ukraine in June 2024.
The donation involves “five to six months” of training, also provided by the French government, to increase Ukraine’s pool of combat pilots by the end of the year.
During the announcement, Macron emphasized that the associated preparations for Kyiv’s aircrews would take place in France.
While this plan differs from President Volodymyr Zelensky‘s initial request for domestic training in Ukraine, Macron clarified that Paris is open to conducting training on Ukrainian soil in partnership with allies.
“We are working with our partners and we will act on the basis of a collective decision,” Macron explained.
The Mirage 2000
The Mirage 2000 is a fourth-generation fighter jet introduced by Dassault Aviation in the early 1980s to replace the French Air Force’s aging Mirage III.
Since its first iteration, the aircraft has undergone multiple upgrades and developed into various configurations, including nuclear-strike and front-line variants.
The Mirage 2000’s fuselage measures 14 meters (47 feet) in length, with a wingspan of 9 meters (30 feet).
It is armed with revolver cannons, unguided rockets, air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles, and laser-guided bombs.
The platform is powered by a SNCEMA turbofan engine, achieving a top speed of Mach 2 (2,470 kilometers/1,535 miles per hour), with a range of 1,550 kilometers (963 miles) and an operational ceiling of 17,060 meters (55,971 feet).
Among the jet’s operators are Greece, the UAE, India, Qatar, and China. In France, the Mirage 2000 is being gradually replaced by Dassault’s Rafale fighter jet.