Ukraine to Receive Limited Mirages That Will Not Be Able to Hit Air Targets

French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu has spoken about the transfer of a batch of Mirage 2000 fighters to help Ukraine. However, the type of fighters being transferred and their number remain unclear.

It is known that the aircraft will undergo modernization before being sent to Kyiv, including the installation of a new onboard defense system (BKO) and adaptation of the weapons control system to new versions of air-to-surface weapons. The Mirage will be additionally equipped at the Cazaux air base in the Gironde province in the southwest of the country.



Lecornu also noted that the French side continues to train Ukrainian pilots to operate the Mirage.

Paris is apparently planning to transfer to Kyiv the Mirage 2000-5F version of the aircraft, which is a modernized version of the Mirage 2000C. In the basic configuration, these combat aircraft are practically limited to the ability to strike air targets. These aircraft will be able to use MICA air-to-air missiles, but they are unlikely to threaten Russian aviation due to their range of only 20 km.

At the same time, Mirage 2000-5F are equipped with a more advanced radar station, allowing the use of air-to-surface weapons. Thus, the fighters will be able to use APACHE missiles (class "anti-runway", effectively hitting airfield runways) and the already well-known SCALP cruise missiles.

Earlier, Ukrainian military expert Alexey Getman said, that in comparison with the F-16, the French Mirage 2000-5 are less functional: American fighters can also perform bomber functions, which is not available for the aforementioned Mirage.