France fast-tracks Mirage 2000 jets to boost Ukraine's defense
Aside from F-16 aircraft, Ukraine is also set to receive a certain number of Mirage 2000s from France. The latest reports from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky indicate that Paris will expedite their delivery. In this article, we examine the performance of these aircraft and explore what they can offer Ukraine.
5:33 PM EST, November 30, 2024
Volodymyr Zelensky recently spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron, thanking him for the readiness to strengthen Ukraine's air defense and speed up the delivery process of Mirage 2000 aircraft. The discussion also covered training Ukrainian brigades in France and matters related to long-range weapons. This move could respond to the potential uncertainty concerning support for Ukraine under a possible future administration of Donald Trump.
Mirage 2000: A strike complement to the F-16
Ukraine was initially set to be equipped with the 2000-5 version of the aircraft in the D variant. This strike model, originating in the 1990s, was once offered to Poland during the proceedings, which were ultimately won by the F-16.
The Mirage 2000 features a tailless design with delta wings, maintaining Dassault's construction trends. It has gained popularity in the international market, being used by countries such as Brazil, Egypt, Greece, India, Qatar, Peru, Taiwan, and the United Arab Emirates.
The Mirage 2000 is a two-seater aircraft capable of achieving supersonic speeds at lower altitudes, enhancing safety when operating near active enemy air defenses. It is armed with two DEFA 554 caliber 30 mm cannons and nine pylons with a total load capacity exceeding 13,000 lbs.
This allows for the deployment of SCALP-EG cruise missiles, the French version of the Storm Shadow, guided bombs like the GBU, competitive JDAMs, AM-39 Exocet anti-ship missiles, and laser-guided AS-30L anti-tank missiles.
Planes in a reduced version
Similar to the F-16A/B MLU, the French aircraft will not have NATO equipment such as the friend-or-foe identification system, but upgraded to a higher standard. It is possible to elevate the capabilities of Ukrainian Mirage 2000 to the standard of Mirage 2000-9 or Mirage 2000-5 Mk.2, which include better electronic warfare systems, the RDY-2 radar, and modern MICA air-to-air missiles with a range of up to 50 miles.
Furthermore, Ukrainian Mirages will be integrated with AASM Hammer guided bombs, allowing them to strike targets up to 9 miles away even when released from low altitude. Currently, Ukraine effectively uses these bombs on modified MiG-29 aircraft.
Theoretically, the Mirage could also be integrated with the MBDA Meteor missile, which has a range of 125 miles, giving Ukrainian pilots equal chances in combat with aircraft like the MiG-31. A few years ago, India showed interest in such modernization for its Mirage 2000, but France deemed the project too complex and costly.
