Ukraine's new air defense boost: Mirage jets reshape strategy
Ukrainian aviation expert Valeriy Romanenko believes that the Mirage 2000 fighter jets, which Ukraine is receiving from France, play a crucial role in the air defense of the country in its fight against Russia. He also claims that they serve as a Plan B in the event of a shortage of carriers for Storm Shadow cruise missiles.
As Romanenko notes, although the French aircraft are not the latest models, they prove extremely useful in the current state of Ukrainian aviation. At the outbreak of the war, Ukraine's air force was significantly less equipped than the Russian Air Force. Currently, it has several dozen F-16s and a few Mirage 2000s, which have supplemented the Soviet-era aircraft still in service, such as the MiG-29 and Su-24.
The role of Mirage 2000 in Ukrainian aviation
The Su-24s had to be modified. The Ukrainians successfully adapted them to carry some Western weapons, including the British Storm Shadow cruise missiles. These are long-range weapons, capable of delivering a 1,000-pound BROACH (Bomb Royal Ordnance Augmented Charge) warhead, allowing them to hit targets up to about 310 miles away.
"These French aircraft are adapted to carry these missiles. They are our most far-reaching weapons. However, during the war, we lost some aircraft that could attack deep into Russia, such as the Su-24s. That's why the Mirage is our Plan B," Romanenko stated as quoted by the Unian agency.
The Ukrainian expert added that the Mirage 2000s are also capable of carrying French AASM Hammer bombs, which can be used against Russian targets up to about 12 miles from the border. Photos confirming the Mirage 2000s armed in this manner over Ukraine have already appeared on social media.
The future of Ukrainian aviation
Ukraine may receive a total of about twenty Mirage 2000 fighter jets. Romanenko also mentioned the possibility of acquiring the Dassault Rafale, though he noted that this is a distant prospect. Before that, the Ukrainian Air Force might be bolstered by the Swedish JAS-39 Gripen.
Ukraine is receiving the Mirage 2000-5F variants, which are among the significant upgrades of this French aircraft. In October 2024, "La Tribune" published an article detailing the modifications these machines underwent before being deployed. They have been enhanced with electronic warfare systems and adapted to carry a broader range of weaponry, including air-to-air Mica missiles with a range of about 50 miles and the aforementioned AASM Hammer bombs.
