Ukraine expects two more Mirage 2000-5s from France in March
March 9, 2026
While the world remains understandably distracted by the ongoing air campaign over Iran, Ukraine continues to quietly reconstitute its fleet. Over the course of 2026, Ukraine will not only receive more F-16s and likely MiG-29s, but also a limited number of French Mirage 2000-5s.
Ukraine expects two more Mirage 2000-5s in March
Last week, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence stated it expects the additional delivery of Mirage 2000-5 from France. It noted that they will further boost the country’s air capabilities, including destroying cruise missiles and drones.
It was not said how many more Mirages would be delivered, but it’s believed to be around two. The first Mirage 2000s were delivered in early 2025, with one crashing soon after.
Reporting in mid-February, Defense Express reported that only three Mirages have been delivered to Ukraine, of which one crashed in July. It says two more are expected to be delivered by the end of March 2026, bringing the total to four.
The publication stated, “France ultimately plans to transfer a total of six Mirage fighters to Ukraine. If two aircraft are delivered by the end of March, only one aircraft would remain to be handed over under this reported plan.”
It said that there had been reports in 2024 that suggested France could potentially supply up to 20 of the aircraft, but that seems to be too optimistic. Twelve is considered more likely, but the real number might be restricted to six.
There has been talk of other countries, like Greece, supplying their retiring Mirage 2000s to Ukraine, although this doesn’t appear to have happened.
Capabilities and use of the Mirage 2000s
The Ukrainian statement says Mirage 2000-5 capabilities exceed those of the legacy MiG-29s it has in service. It adds, “The Mirage aircraft are extensively modernised fourth-generation fighters whose combat capabilities, radar equipment, and manoeuvrability approach those of fifth-generation fighter aircraft.”
It explains that the Mirage 2000-5 has improved avionics and is lighter and more manoeuvrable than most similar aircraft. The aircraft comes with “powerful radar systems and weapons, including high-precision Magic-2 missiles.”
Ukrainian pilots have recently praised the near-perfect track record these Magic-2 missiles have in bringing down enemy air assets. At first, these jets were used strictly for air defence, but they are now also being used in an offensive ground-attack role using AASM Hammer bombs.
Another benefit of the Mirage 2000 is that it provides Ukraine with another platform to launch Storm Shadow/SCALP missiles, AASM Hammer aerial guided bombs, and other Western-supplied munitions. Previously, it was forced to rely on its legacy fleet of worn-out, jerry-rigged Su-24 Fencers to launch Storm Shadow munitions.
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How France is assisting the Ukrainian Air Force
Another important area where France is assisting the Ukrainian air force is in pilot training. The biggest issue for the Ukrainian Air Force at the moment is not the number of available fighter jets, but the number of available qualified pilots to fly them. This is why Ukraine is still interested in acquiring what’s left of Poland’s legacy MiG-29s, as it has the pilots to fly those aircraft.
The UK and France have relaunched production of Storm Shadow missiles, allowing them to continue supplying Ukraine with the advanced cruise missile without exhausting their own stocks.
The Mirage 2000-5 is seen as a stepping stone in supplying Ukraine with a much larger and more capable fleet of Rafale fighter jets. In late 2025, Ukraine signed a letter of intent for up to 100 Rafales, although there are major questions about how they will be financed.
Featured Image: Ukraine Air Force
