Will the French Mirage 2000-5F Fighter Jet Give Ukraine the Edge Against Russia’s Air Assaults?

The French Mirage 2000-5F fighter jets are heading to Ukraine. The first deliveries are due by the end of this month, January 2025, according to reports. Some unconfirmed reports claim that the jets may already be in Ukraine and used for training purposes. France reportedly plans to transfer a total of 20 Mirage 2000-5F fighter jets to Ukraine.

Delivery of the French fighter jets would come at a critical time as Russian bombardment on Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure continues. Over the first five days of 2025, Russia deployed more than 630 strike drones, approximately 740 guided aerial bombs, and nearly 50 missiles of various types President Zelenskyy announced on Telegram. 

What is the Mirage 2000-5F?

The Mirage 2000-5F is a French multirole fighter. It is one of the oldest aircraft in the French army still in service and is mainly used for NATO surveillance operations. However, the French Directorate General of Armaments  modified the Mirage at the Cazaux base in Gironde, transforming it into a versatile platform capable of launching the SCALP-EG/Storm Shadow cruise missiles for long-range strikes against Russia. 

The Mirage 2000-5F has an advanced radar system, the Thales RDI (Radar Doppler à Impulsion) radar, which is more advanced than those found in the MiG-29s and Su-27s. The Mirage can simultaneously detect 24 aerial targets, tracking eight and engaging four at the same time.

The French fighter jet has enhanced situational awareness with a modern digital cockpit and advanced avionics enabling it to process more information in real time, performing faster than MiG-29s and Su-27s during high-pressure combat engagements. It’s lighter and more maneuverable than its counterparts offering flexibility and precision. 

Ukrainian crews have reportedly completed an extensive training program to operate the Mirage, essential to ensure that Ukrainian personnel can operate, maintain, and repair the French fighter jets.

Mirage 2000-5F in action

In 2019, the Indian Air Force flew older models of the Mirage 2000 fighter jets during “Operation Bandar” and conducted the “Balakot Air Strike”. The fighter jets crossed the Line of Control (LoC) , striking Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM)  camp in Pakistan. The attack was conducted in response to the Pulwama attack, known as “one of the deadliest terror strikes in India.”

India also used the Mirage fighter jets to strike their enemy during the 1999 Kargil war, and according to reports, “Mirage-2000 fighter aircraft was a game changer for India in the Kargil heights, tipping the war in the country’s favour.” 

On March 9th, 2024, the French Air Force had their first air-to-air kill since World War II. Two Mirage 2000-5Fs downed two Shahed-136 drones launched by Houthi rebels in Yemen at the French air defense frigate Alsace. 

Moscow has launched thousands of Shahed-type drones into Ukraine and Russian drone attacks are increasing. Shahed drones are cheap to make and easily mass-produced, Russia often uses them to attack civilian infrastructure. 

Russia reportedly increased their Shahed drone production in 2024, reaching an estimated average of 2000 Shahed drones produced per month. 

Iran has also been supplying Russia with Shahed-136 drones in exchange for money and assistance with its nuclear program. 

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A significant number of drones mimicking real Shaheds appeared throughout 2024, aiming to overwhelm the Ukrainian air defense systems and exhaust Ukrainian servicemen, according to a press release from Air Force Command of Ukrainian Armed Forces,

During the last few months of 2024, the number of Russian drone attacks on Ukraine reached record levels—2576 were sent to attack Ukraine in November alone. Ukraine’s forces downed over 11,200 attack drones in 2024, highlighting the sheer scale of drone swarms launched by Moscow. 

How will the Mirage 5000-5F help Ukraine?

France’s air-to-air Shahed attack success is undoubtedly an example of how the Mirage can support Ukraine from Russia’s barrage of escalating drone attacks. 

India’s Balakot Air Strike proves that the Mirage can carry out deep strike missions against enemy targets on foreign soil.

France is also modifying its Mirage fighter jets to enable Ukraine to launch Anglo-Franco Storm Shadow cruise missiles. This will significantly enhance Ukraine's ability to strike targets.

Storm Shadow missiles are designed for deep-strike missions and have a range of around 250 kilometers (155 miles). In France, it’s called SCALP. Equipped with a 450-kilogram warhead, it can travel close to the speed of sound, around 1000 kilometers per hour (600mph).

This missile is used for high-precision deep strikes while often evading detection. It is an ideal weapon for striking hardened and protected assets like ammunition stores, critical infrastructure, command centers, runways, and logistics hubs.

In mid-November, Western allies lifted restrictions on Kyiv’s use of long-range missiles to strike military targets deep into Russia’s rear. Since then, Russian aerial bomb attacks on Ukraine dropped more than 50%. 

Since the delivery of the Storm Shadow missiles, Ukraine has been using them very effectively.

The addition of Mirage fighter jets to Ukraine’s air fleet seems positive. As Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine nears its third year of war, boosting Ukraine’s air force comes at a crucial time.