France Releases Footage of Ukrainian Pilots Training on Mirage 2000-5 Fighter Jets, Video

The French military has released a video showing Ukrainian pilots training on Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets recently delivered to Ukraine. The footage was published on February 7.

According to the French Armed Forces, the training represents another step in military cooperation. “Mission accomplished. Another step in supporting the Armed Forces of Ukraine through personnel training on Mirage 2000-5, conducted by the French military. A clear demonstration of France’s determination to assist Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense in all areas,” the statement said.

France announced its decision to supply Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets to Ukraine in June 2024. At that time, President Emmanuel Macron confirmed that Paris would provide several aircraft and facilitate the training of 4,500 Ukrainian military personnel.

On October 8, French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu specified that deliveries would take place in the first quarter of 2025, though the exact number of delivered jets remained undisclosed. Reports from French media later suggested that three aircraft would be delivered in the initial phase.

On February 6, Lecornu and his Ukrainian counterpart, Rustem Umerov, confirmed that the first batch of Mirage 2000-5 jets had arrived in Ukraine. On the same day, Ukraine also received a shipment of F-16 fighter jets from the Netherlands, marking a broader expansion of its combat aviation capabilities.