First Mirage 2000-5Fs reported as having been delivered to Ukraine
February 7, 2025
On 6 February, Sébastien Lecornu, France’s Minister of the Armed Forces, announced that “On 6 June 2024 Emmanuel Macron announced the delivery of French Mirage 2000s to Ukraine. The first of them arrived in Ukraine today. With Ukrainian pilots on board, who have been trained for several months in France, they will now participate in defending the skies of Ukraine.”
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy also confirmed the arrival, saying that: “Ukraine’s air fleet continues to develop. The first Mirage 2000 jets from France have arrived, adding to our air-defence capabilities. This is another step in strengthening Ukraine’s security. With the latest deliveries, we are also continuing to expand our F-16 fleet, with the Netherlands fulfilling its commitments to support this effort. I am grateful to everyone who helps and contributes to this.”
Defence minister Rustem Umerov added that: “We continue systematic work together with partners to increase the number of modern combat aircraft in Ukraine.”
The exact number of jets delivered has not been disclosed, but previous reports suggested that France had committed to supplying at least six, and perhaps 12 Mirage 2000-5F fighters upgraded with air-to-ground capabilities and modernised electronic warfare and countermeasures equipment. The first batch was variously described as consisting of three or six aircraft.
In November 2024, the French government confirmed that Ukraine would receive six Mirage 2000-5F fighters during the first quarter of 2025, along with a full support package, but did not confirm whether they would be delivered altogether, or as two packages of three aircraft.
In early January 2025, there were reports suggesting that Ukrainian pilot and ground crew training had been completed at Base Aérienne 133 Nancy/Ochey, though this was not officially confirmed.
Our coverage of the original decision to donate Mirage 2000s to Ukraine (published on 16 October 2024) is at:
Our subsequent report that the initial delivery would consist of just three aircraft (28 October 2024) is at:
First Mirage delivery to Ukraine will consist of just three aircraft
We predicted that deliveries were ‘near’ (4 January 2025). The report is at:
