Delivered in February 2025, the Mirage 2000 has now been officially shown for the first time by President Zelensky for the Ukrainian Aviation Day.
Months after the delivery of the first Mirage 2000 fighters to Ukraine, the French-made jet has been shown clearly for the first time. The photo was part of a post on social media by President Voldymyr Zelensky to honor the Ukrainian Aviation Day.
The only photo emerged so far of the aircraft in Ukraine only showed the tail with the Ukrainian Air Force’s emblem. The image was part of a post to thank France for the support and the delivery of the Mirage.
The Photo
The newly released image shows a Mirage 2000-5F during a low pass. The aircraft kept the same camo livery which it had while serving in the French Air and Space Force, with the French insignia obviously removed and replaced by the Ukrainian one on the tail. Other markings below the cockpit’s canopy have been blurred.
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The aircraft is unarmed, although the rails for two MICA-IR and two MICA-EM missiles are installed under the wingtips and the fuselage, respectively. Additionally, the jet carries two 2,000 liters external fuel tanks, painted with the colors of the Ukrainian flag, blue on top and yellow on the bottom.
The aircraft appears to be largely in the same original configuration, with the modifications being mostly internal. However, a noticeable difference is the removal of the in-flight refueling probe, although Ukraine is not expected to use this capability at this time.
The Mirage in Ukraine
French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu has announced on Feb. 6, 2025, the delivery of the first Mirage 2000 fighters to Ukraine. A month later, on Mar. 7, the Ukrainian Air Force announced the Mirage 2000’s first recorded combat engagement, successfully intercepting a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile during a large-scale missile and drone attack.
According to Ukrainian media, the Mirage 2000-5F is often used in the air defense, but has also been used for attack missions, although this can’t be verified. As a matter of fact, France said the aircraft would be modified before delivery to add air-to-ground capabilities, including the SCALP-EG air-launched cruise missiles and AASM Hammer guided bombs, both already used by Ukraine.
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The number of jets delivered to Ukraine is unknown, although the French government said Ukraine would receive six Mirage 2000-5F fighters during the first quarter of 2025. However, one of these aircraft was lost on July 22.
The Ukrainian Air Force reported that “an aircraft equipment failure occurred” during an evening mission, forcing the pilot to eject, and he was later safely rescued. An investigation is ongoing.
The Mirage’s Transfer
France first announced the willingness to provide some of its Mirage 2000s to Ukraine in June 2024, in occasion of commemorations of the D-Day landings on June 6, 1944, attended by Ukrainian President Voldymyr Zelensky.
The French government confirmed in November that Ukraine will receive six Mirage 2000-5F fighters during the first quarter of 2025, together with a full support package. Ukraine has reportedly asked for 12 Mirages to meet its immediate needs. France is reported to have between 24 and 28 Mirage 2000-5F still in service.
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Lecornu stated that the future Ukrainian Mirages will be modified. “The aim is to equip them with air-to-ground combat capabilities and strengthen their electronic warfare system,” said Lecornu. “This transformation operation will take place at the Cazaux base in Gironde.”
According to La Tribune, the aircraft delivered to Ukraine will 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, while the air-to-ground weapons have to be integrated.
No details are available regarding the electronic warfare system which will equip the aircraft, although some sources say it could be the Integrated Counter Measures Suite (ICMS) Mk3 already used by export Mirage 2000s. The system, which in the latest version is fully digital, includes radar and infrared warning sensors, as well as jammers and countermeasures.
As we mentioned when the transfer was first announced, similarly to the F-16s, the Mirage 2000s will not be real game changers in the air war over Ukraine, even though they will certainly help. This will in fact brin to the aerial battlefield another 4th gen. multirole aircraft with a good maneuverability and agility, fairly modern avionics and sensors, and the ability to carry two weapons already used by Ukraine, but this time fully integrated in the aircraft.
