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Ukrainian-Flown Mirage 2000 to Join France’s Bastille Day Parade Over Paris
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Two Mirage 2000 fighter jets crewed by French and Ukrainian pilots are set to participate in France’s Bastille Day military parade on July 14, with one aircraft expected to appear in the colors of the Ukrainian flag.
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According to Le Figaro on June 7, the aircraft will join the aerial segment of the annual parade over Paris, flying behind the Patrouille de France aerobatic team. The participation of the Mirage 2000s is expected to highlight defense cooperation between France and Ukraine as Paris continues military support for Kyiv.
Le Figaro reported that the 2026 Bastille Day parade will place a strong focus on European security and support for Ukraine.
The newspaper said approximately 10,000 service members are expected to take part, while the number of heavy military vehicles and aircraft involved in the event will be increased compared with last year’s parade.
According to Le Figaro, the two Mirage 2000s will be flown by mixed French-Ukrainian crews. One of the aircraft is expected to receive a special paint scheme featuring Ukraine’s national colors.
The planned flyover comes after France began training Ukrainian pilots on the Mirage 2000-5F platform. French authorities confirmed in early 2025 that Ukrainian personnel were undergoing training on the aircraft, which was later supplied to Ukraine as part of France’s military assistance package.
France first announced plans to transfer Mirage 2000 fighter jets to Ukraine in June 2024. The first aircraft arrived in Ukraine in February 2025, with additional deliveries following in subsequent batches.
The Bastille Day parade will also include French units that have recently served on NATO’s eastern flank, including deployments in Estonia, Poland, and Romania, according to Le Figaro.
The event is expected to serve as a public demonstration of France’s military readiness and its ongoing security commitments in Europe amid Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Earlier, a Ukrainian Air Force pilot flying the French-supplied Mirage 2000 reported a 98% success rate in intercepting Russian drones and missiles. Speaking in a rare on-camera interview, the pilot praised the aircraft’s performance against aerial threats and called for additional Western fighter jets and longer-range weapons to strengthen Ukraine’s air defense capabilities.
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