Limited number of French Mirage jets set to boost Ukraine's defense in 2025

While there has been talk since 2023 about France possibly delivering Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets to Ukraine, the French authorities only confirmed the preparations for their delivery this past October. According to the newspaper "La Tribune," the first batch, expected to arrive in Ukraine in the first quarter of 2025, will consist of just three French fighters.

This aligns with earlier concerns from some analysts who argued that Ukraine should not expect a large number of Mirage 2000-5s. It is likely that Ukraine will receive a total of six to twelve such fighter jets. Nonetheless, all of them will be modified and adapted to carry weaponry that poses a significant threat to Russian forces.

The Mirage 2000-5 fighters being transferred to the Ukrainian air force will be equipped to carry French-British SCALP-EG/Storm Shadow cruise missiles, which have already been deployed to the front lines. These long-range weapons allow for targeting at distances of up to 310 miles. Each missile is over 16 feet long and weighs approximately 2,866 pounds, with the warhead accounting for 992 pounds.

Additionally, according to "La Tribune," Ukrainian forces will be able to use French AASM glide bombs, with which they are already familiar since they use them on MiG-29 and Su-25 aircraft, as well as modern Mica air-to-air missiles with a range of about 50 miles. The Mirage 2000-5 aircraft for Ukraine will also receive enhancements in electronic warfare systems. By default, these jets are equipped with two 30 mm DEFA 554 cannons.

These single-engine multirole fighters are characterized by a delta wing design. They are over 49 feet long with a wingspan of 30 feet and can reach speeds of up to Mach 2.35 while operating at altitudes exceeding 62,000 feet.