The first batch of three upgraded French Dassault Aviation Mirage 2000-5F fighter jets will arrive in Ukraine by January 20, Avions Legendaires reported.
French fighter jets will be transferred from the French Air and Space Force’s stockpiles. They are adapted for the tasks of Ukraine’s Air Force. In total, Ukraine is expected to receive up to 10 Mirage-2000 combat aircraft.
These jets, along with Caesar artillery systems and AMX-10RC armored vehicles, are part of France’s major military aid package, according to the French media.
As part of the modernization program, French experts equipped the fighter jets with the capability to use Scalp-EG and Storm Shadow cruise missiles that Ukraine uses to strike Russian strategic positions. This significantly enhances the aircraft’s combat capabilities, enabling precise strikes on distant military targets.
Some sources suggest that the Mirage-2000 jets are already in Ukraine and conducting training flights.
The Mirage 2000-5F became the second Western fighter jet in Ukraine’s Air Force, following the US-made F-16s provided by several EU countries.
On June 6, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France would supply its fighter jets to Ukraine. He confirmed the start of training for Ukrainian pilots and mechanics. Macron did not specify the number of aircraft under discussion.
In October, French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu stated that Ukraine would receive Mirage 2000 fighters in the first half of 2025, equipped with new systems.
According to later reports, Ukraine would receive the first three Mirage 2000-5 jets in the first quarter of 2025.
Ukrainian pilots and mechanics completed their six-month training on French Mirage 2000-5F fighters on December 25.
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