DefenseFrance to deliver additional Mirage 2000-5 fighters to Ukraine
Ukraine’s Air Force said it is expecting additional Dassault Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets from France, as Kyiv seeks to strengthen its combat aviation capabilities amid the ongoing war with Russia.
In a statement published on its official Telegram channel, the Ukrainian Air Force said France is preparing to transfer more Mirage 2000 aircraft. The announcement followed talks between Ukraine’s new defense minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, and France’s minister of the armed forces, Catherine Vautrin.
Ukraine received its first Mirage 2000-5 aircraft in early 2025 under a bilateral agreement with Paris. The deal included pilot training in France and modifications to adapt the fighters to operational conditions in Ukraine.
The Mirage 2000-5 aircraft delivered to Kyiv were upgraded with additional self-protection countermeasures and enhancements to their electronic warfare systems. They were also modified to expand their air-to-ground strike capabilities. The aircraft are equipped with the Thales RDY radar, offering improved performance over the earlier RDM and RDI variants.
The Mirage 2000-5 entered operational service with Ukraine shortly after delivery. The first reported loss of a Ukrainian-operated Mirage 2000-5 occurred in July 2025.
The Ukrainian statement also referred to continued discussions on additional weapons supplies to equip the fighters. One focus is a new batch of AASM Hammer precision-guided bombs. France has partnered with Norway to expand production of the weapon system for transfer to Ukraine. Oslo is contributing more than €365 million to the effort, while Paris is providing an additional €260 million.
Talks also include the potential delivery of further SCALP-EG long-range cruise missiles. The missile, already used by Ukrainian forces in combat, is integrated on the Sukhoi Su-24 Fencer strike aircraft and the Mirage 2000-5. Depending on the variant, the SCALP-EG has a range of roughly 250 to 400 kilometers and carries a 400-kilogram warhead designed to strike fortified targets with precision.
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