France may boost Ukraine's airpower with more mirage jets
In an interview with Le Parisien, French President Emmanuel Macron announced the possibility of providing Ukraine with additional Mirage 2000 fighter jets. The Ukrainian National News Service reports that some jets could come "from third countries that use them."
Emmanuel Macron "did not rule out" the possibility of sending additional Mirage 2000 fighter jets to Kyiv, including aircraft coming "from third countries that use them." According to the UNN, France is also working on expediting the delivery of missiles and drones, which Ukraine has identified as priority military equipment needed to defend against Russian aggression.
France continues to support Ukraine
The French president stressed that Russia does not show a sincere desire to make peace and is ignoring ceasefire proposals. He also called for a united effort by Ukraine's allies and the US to pressure Russia into achieving a ceasefire. Macron is also seeking to convince European Union countries to purchase weapons from European manufacturers, offering alternatives to the American Patriot and F-35 systems. Canada and Portugal are currently considering disavowing the latter.
Recent events, such as the interception of a Russian missile by a Ukrainian Mirage 2000, have attracted significant international attention. These aircraft, which also intercept Russian drones, have reminded the world of their effectiveness and capabilities on the real battlefield.
It is worth recalling that the Dassault Mirage 2000 is a single-seat, multi-role French fighter plane that debuted in 1978. Its design is based on a delta configuration, giving the aircraft good aerodynamic properties and manoeuvrability. The Mirage 2000 is powered by a single SNECMA M53-P2 engine, allowing it to reach a maximum speed of around 1,168 mph and an operational ceiling of around 55,774 feet.
The Mirage 2000 was designed with versatility in mind. It can carry various armaments, including air-to-air missiles such as the Magic 2 and MICA and air-to-ground missiles, including SCALP-EG cruise missiles and AASM-guided bombs. The Mirage 2000-5 version, one of the most modern, is equipped with the RDY-2 radar, which has a range of up to 81 miles, modern avionics, and the ability to integrate with weapon systems used in newer aircraft, such as the Dassault Rafale.
To date, France has decided to provide Ukraine with several Mirage 2000-5F fighter jets. After appropriate modifications to adapt them to the specifics of the Ukrainian theatre of operations, these machines were delivered to the Ukrainians at the beginning of 2025. Already in February of this year, the Ukrainian air force successfully used these aircraft to repel a massive Russian attack, shooting down, among other things, Kh-101 cruise missiles.
