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France Turns Mirage 2000D Fighters Into Shahed Hunters After Lessons From Ukraine
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
France is preparing to modify its fleet of Mirage 2000D fighter jets to intercept long-range suicide drones such as Iran’s Shahed-136, according to Opex360 on October 12.
The move is part of a broader effort to develop a cost-effective aerial platform for countering UAV threats, taking cues from Ukraine’s experience defending against Russian drone attacks.
As Opex360 reported, the chief of France’s Air and Space Force directly acknowledged that the decision was driven by the growing threat posed by long-range Shahed-type drones.
The country’s ability to neutralize mass drone attacks has pushed Western militaries to rethink the role of legacy aircraft in air defense operations.
According to Defense Express on October 13, the long-range capability of drones like the Shahed makes them a credible threat to France itself, especially if launched from Kaliningrad or Belarus.
While French authorities have not officially disclosed the scope of the upgrades, Defense Express notes that one likely modification is the integration of 70mm laser-guided rockets such as the Thales FZ275 LGR.
These low-cost precision munitions are already in high demand and could provide a high-volume, scalable option for engaging slow-moving drone targets.
The concept mirrors the US practice of outfitting F-15 and F-16 fighters with APKWS (Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System) rockets. With this configuration, a single F-15E can reportedly destroy up to 50 UAV targets in one mission.
Implementing new weapons systems on legacy aircraft involves more than attaching a missile to a wing pylon. It typically requires fire control software updates and systems integration work, which can be both technically complex and time-consuming.
The drone-interception upgrade would build upon the current RMV (Rénovation Mi-Vie) modernization program for the Mirage 2000D fleet. Under this program, the aircraft have been updated with MICA IR air-to-air missiles and a CC422 gun pod, though not with AASM Hammer precision bombs.
Despite being classified as multirole aircraft, the Mirage 2000D’s original focus was ground attack, developed in the 1990s during delays in the Rafale program. Integrating new weapons remains a distinct process even for versatile platforms.
Earlier, The Wall Street Journal reported that Ukraine began using Soviet-era Yak-52 training aircraft as improvised interceptors to shoot down Shahed and Orlan drones. Pilots from the 11th Army Aviation Brigade reportedly engage drones at close range using small arms—sometimes even colliding with them midair—reviving tactics reminiscent of early World War I dogfights.
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