First Mirage delivery to Ukraine will consist of just three aircraft
October 28, 2024
Following reports that France is making preparations to transfer an unknown number of Dassault Mirage 2000s to Ukraine, French newspaper La Tribune has reported that the first three ex-French Dassault Mirage 2000-5F fighters are scheduled to arrive in Ukraine before the end of April 2025.
La Tribune also confirmed that the surplus Mirage 2000-5Fs will be converted for air-to-ground missions and will be equipped with French- air-to-ground weapons, including SCALP-EG cruise missiles and AASM Hammer glide bombs, already used by Ukraine’s Su-24s, MiG-29s and Su-27s. They may be brought up to a similar standard to the multi-role Mirage 2000-9 single-seaters developed for the United Arab Emirates. The aircraft’s electronic warfare systems will also be upgraded and modernized to counter Russian jamming as part of the modernisation programme now underway at Cazaux Air Base.
There have reportedly been some disagreements as to how many aircraft could be made available for transfer. The Defence ministry reportedly wanted to keep 20 out of the 26 available aircraft, while the transfer of just six fighters did not match what French President Emmanuel Macron wanted, which was at least sufficient for a full squadron (12-18).
Ukrainian pilots and technicians are reportedly training at Nancy (probably Base Aerienne 133 at Nancy-Ochey), home to the 3e Escadre de Chasse, which operates the Mirage 2000D, a two-seat variant dedicated to air-to-ground missions. The 3e Escadre de Chasse has amassed extensive combat experience in Afghanistan, Libya, and Mali, which is being passed on to the Ukrainian personnel.
It is not clear as to whether the Mirages will be flown by those Ukrainian student pilots who have completed advanced flying training on the Alpha Jet in France, following their elementary flying training in the UK.
