France bolsters Ukraine’s air force with mirage jets: A turning point in the conflict?
In a significant move, French President Emmanuel Macron announced on June 6, during a D-Day memorial ceremony, that France would be providing Ukraine with Mirage 2000–5 fighter jets by the end of the year. As part of this decision, Ukrainian pilots and support staff will be trained in France to enhance Ukraine’s air force capabilities in the ongoing conflict with Russia.
The Mirage 2000–5 jets will be equipped with advanced MICA air-to-air missiles. Because these jets can’t use non-French weapons, the addition of these missiles is pretty important. The hope is that these new jets will help Ukraine gain an edge in the skies.
What Makes the Mirage 2000–5 Special?
The Mirage 2000–5, while impressive in its day, is a bit older by today’s standards. It first appeared when Commodore 64s were all the rage and doesn’t have the latest long-range radar and weaponry that modern jets possess. However, it is still a highly agile and capable aircraft.
How Many Jets and Where From?
President Macron did not specify how many Mirage jets France will provide or which other countries might be involved in this transfer. However, countries like Greece and Qatar, which also have Mirage 2000–5 jets, might contribute.
France originally bought 124 Mirage 2000C fighters, upgrading 37 to the 2000–5 model. Today, 26 of these upgraded jets are still in service. By 2029, newer Dassault Rafales will take their place, so Macron’s choice to send some of these older jets to Ukraine may hasten their retirement.
Countries like Greece and Qatar might also provide some of their Mirage jets. Greece has 24 advanced Mirage 2000–5 Mk2 fighters and has considered selling some of their older jets. Qatar’s 12 Mirage 2000–5EDA jets, which were initially going to be sold to Indonesia, could also be redirected to Ukraine.
Enhancing Ukraine’s Air Defense
The Mirage 2000–5 is primarily armed with MICA missiles, which come in two versions: one guided by radar (MICA-RF) and one guided by infrared (MICA-IR). These missiles can be launched and then left to find their target on their own, which is a significant advantage. However, the MICA-RF’s range is 50 miles, shorter than the 68 miles of Russia’s R-77–1 missiles.
The Mirage 2000–5 has an RDY radar that can detect targets up to 70–80 miles away. While this is better than the radars on Ukraine’s current Soviet-era jets, it is not as advanced as on Russia’s modern fighters. This means Ukrainian pilots will need to use smart tactics and coordinate closely with ground-based air defenses to counter Russia’s air power effectively.
Future Upgrades and Integration
New MICA-NG missiles with a range of up to 100 miles will become available in 2026. These missiles would significantly enhance the Mirage 2000–5’s effectiveness. However, until then, Ukraine will have to work with the current capabilities of the MICA missiles.
Ukraine has already modified its older Soviet jets to use Western weapons, so it’s possible they could make similar upgrades to the Mirages to improve their capabilities.
