According to information reported by RTL France, the first Ukrainian Air Force pilots and ground crew have allegedly completed their training on Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets at the Nancy Air Base. While this information has not been confirmed by French officials, it aligns with President Emmanuel Macron’s previous announcements regarding the transfer of fighter jets to Ukraine.
This follows the confirmation made by the French president in November 2024, announcing that Ukraine will receive six Mirage 2000-5F jets in 2025 along with a support package. Earlier, the French Minister of Armed Forces had stated that the first batch would consist of only three Mirage 2000-5F aircraft, a detail that raised questions for several months.
These jets feature significant improvements over the “C” version, particularly in radar and air-to-ground combat capabilities. Specifically, they are equipped with the RDY radar, a pulse-Doppler mechanical scanning system with look-down/shoot-down capability. Compared to the RDM and RDI radars installed in the Mirage 2000C, the RDY radar can track up to eight targets simultaneously and provides superior air-to-ground capability.
Additionally, the Mirage 2000s to be delivered to Ukraine will undergo modernization to enhance these systems and improve their self-defense and electronic warfare capabilities—vital features for any weapons system deployed in high-intensity conflicts with various short-, medium-, and long-range air defense systems.
In October 2024, France confirmed that the three aircraft would be modified to carry BVR MICA missiles and stealth SCALP-EG cruise missiles. “This transformation process will take place at the Cazaux base in Gironde. The goal is to equip them with air-to-ground combat capabilities and strengthen their electronic warfare systems,” said Sébastien Lecornu in an interview with local media from the region where the upgrades will be carried out. However, details about the electronic warfare system to be installed remain unknown. Some sources speculate that it could be the Integrated Counter Measures Suite (ICMS) Mk3, already in use in export versions of the Mirage 2000.
Although Ukraine initially requested 12 Mirage fighter jets, France’s confirmation of this transfer represents a significant step in European military support for the embattled nation. With this decision, France joins other European countries like Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway in transferring F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, further bolstering the country’s aerial arsenal. The addition of the Mirage jets will complement the recently acquired F-16s and other aircraft in service, enabling Ukraine to carry out ground attack and air support missions effectively, thanks to the compatibility with cruise missiles and HAMMER guided bombs.
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