Ukraine receives first French Mirage 2000 fighter jets

“On June 6, 2024, Emmanuel Macron announced the delivery of French Mirage 2000 fighters to Ukraine. The first of them arrived in Ukraine today,” Lecornu wrote.

He clarified that the aircraft, along with Ukrainian pilots on board, who had undergone several months of training in France, would help defend the Ukrainian sky.

Mirage 2000

The Mirage 2000 is a fourth-generation multi-role fighter developed by the French company Dassault Aviation. It first flew in 1978 and has become the main combat aircraft of the French Air Force, as well as exported to many other countries.

Thanks to its delta wing, the Mirage 2000 is highly maneuverable, and its maximum speed exceeds Mach 2. The aircraft is equipped with modern avionics, and a powerful on-board radar and can carry a wide range of weapons, including air-to-air and air-to-ground guided missiles.

The Mirage 2000 is available in several versions, including fighter-interceptor, strike, and two-seat trainer versions. Due to its ease of maintenance and high reliability, the Mirage 2000 remains in service even after the advent of more modern aircraft such as the Rafale.

Mirage 2000 for Ukraine

Last summer, French President Emmanuel Macron officially announced Paris's plans to provide Ukraine with Mirage 2000 fighters. At the time, the media reported that Ukraine would receive a modernized version of the French aircraft.

Later, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed that France had accelerated the process of transferring the aircraft.

At the same time, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot clarified that Ukraine would receive the aircraft by the end of the first quarter of 2025.

Read more about what Mirage 2000-5 fighters are capable of and how they can strengthen the Armed Forces of Ukraine in RBC-Ukraine's article.