First French Mirage 2000 fighter jets arrive in Ukraine

French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu wrote about this on X.

He recalled that on June 6, 2024, French President Emmanuel Macron announced the delivery of French Mirage 2000 fighters to Ukraine.

He wrote that the first of them arrived in Ukraine today. With Ukrainian pilots who had undergone several months of training in France on board, they would now help defend Ukrainian airspace.

Reference. The Mirage 2000 is a French multi-role fighter developed in the 1970s by Dassault Aviation, the main combat aircraft of the French Air Force in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. The first flight was recorded in 1978 (a year later than the MiG-29), and it was adopted in France in 1984. 

In addition, they are in service with the armies of Greece, Egypt, the UAE, India, Peru, and Taiwan. Previously, Brazil and Qatar were also operators of Mirage systems. Mirage systems have been used during military operations in Bosnia, Afghanistan, Syria, Libya, and others.

Supply of Mirage 2000 to Ukraine: what is known

On June 6, Emmanuel Macron announced that France would supply its fighter jets to Ukraine. The following day, he confirmed the start of training for Ukrainian pilots and mechanics. However, Macron didn’t specify how many aircraft were being discussed.

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.

Later reports indicated that the first three Mirage 2000-5 jets would be delivered to Ukraine in the first quarter of 2025.

On Wednesday, December 25, it was reported that Ukrainian pilots and mechanics finished their six-month training on French Mirage 2000-5F fighters.