Delivered in February 2025, the Mirage 2000 has now been formally proven for the primary time by President Zelensky for the Ukrainian Aviation Day.
Months after the supply of the primary Mirage 2000 fighters to Ukraine, the French-made jet has been proven clearly for the primary time. The photograph was a part of a publish on social media by President Voldymyr Zelensky to honor the Ukrainian Aviation Day.
The one photograph emerged up to now of the plane in Ukraine solely confirmed the tail with the Ukrainian Air Power’s emblem. The picture was a part of a publish to thank France for the assist and the supply of the Mirage.
The Picture
The newly launched picture exhibits a Mirage 2000-5F throughout a low cross. The plane saved the identical camo livery which it had whereas serving within the French Air and House Power, with the French insignia clearly eliminated and changed by the Ukrainian one on the tail. Different markings under the cockpit’s cover have been blurred.
The plane is unarmed, though the rails for 2 MICA-IR and two MICA-EM missiles are put in below the wingtips and the fuselage, respectively. Moreover, the jet carries two 2,000 liters exterior gasoline tanks, painted with the colours of the Ukrainian flag, blue on prime and yellow on the underside.
The plane seems to be largely in the identical authentic configuration, with the modifications being principally inner. Nonetheless, a noticeable distinction is the elimination of the in-flight refueling probe, though Ukraine shouldn’t be anticipated to make use of this functionality at the moment.
The Mirage in Ukraine
French Protection Minister Sebastien Lecornu has introduced on Feb. 6, 2025, the supply of the primary Mirage 2000 fighters to Ukraine. A month later, on Mar. 7, the Ukrainian Air Power introduced the Mirage 2000’s first recorded fight engagement, efficiently intercepting a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile throughout a large-scale missile and drone assault.
In response to Ukrainian media, the Mirage 2000-5F is usually used within the air protection, however has additionally been used for assault missions, though this could’t be verified. As a matter of truth, France stated the plane can be modified earlier than supply so as to add air-to-ground capabilities, together with the SCALP-EG air-launched cruise missiles and AASM Hammer guided bombs, each already utilized by Ukraine.
The variety of jets delivered to Ukraine is unknown, though the French authorities stated Ukraine would obtain six Mirage 2000-5F fighters through the first quarter of 2025. Nonetheless, one among these plane was misplaced on July 22.
The Ukrainian Air Power reported that “an plane gear failure occurred” throughout a night mission, forcing the pilot to eject, and he was later safely rescued. An investigation is ongoing.
The Mirage’s Switch
France first introduced the willingness to supply a few of its Mirage 2000s to Ukraine in June 2024, in event of commemorations of the D-Day landings on June 6, 1944, attended by Ukrainian President Voldymyr Zelensky.
The French authorities confirmed in November that Ukraine will obtain six Mirage 2000-5F fighters through the first quarter of 2025, along with a full assist package deal. Ukraine has reportedly requested for 12 Mirages to fulfill its quick wants. France is reported to have between 24 and 28 Mirage 2000-5F nonetheless in service.
Lecornu said that the longer term Ukrainian Mirages might be modified. “The purpose is to equip them with air-to-ground fight capabilities and strengthen their digital warfare system,” stated Lecornu. “This transformation operation will happen on the Cazaux base in Gironde.”
In response to La Tribune, the plane delivered to Ukraine might be armed with MICA air-to-air missiles, SCALP-EG air-launched cruise missiles, AASM Hammer guided bombs and two 30 mm DEFA 554 cannons. The MICA missiles and the cannons are already employed by the French Mirage 2000-5Fs, whereas the air-to-ground weapons need to be built-in.
No particulars can be found concerning the digital warfare system which is able to equip the plane, though some sources say it may very well be the Built-in Counter Measures Suite (ICMS) Mk3 already utilized by export Mirage 2000s. The system, which within the newest model is totally digital, contains radar and infrared warning sensors, in addition to jammers and countermeasures.
As we talked about when the switch was first introduced, equally to the F-16s, the Mirage 2000s won’t be actual sport changers within the air warfare over Ukraine, despite the fact that they’ll actually assist. This may in reality brin to the aerial battlefield one other 4th gen. multirole plane with a very good maneuverability and agility, pretty trendy avionics and sensors, and the power to hold two weapons already utilized by Ukraine, however this time totally built-in within the plane.
