France to Transfer Mirage 2000-5 to Ukraine

French President Emmanuel Macron has confirmed that France will transfer an unspecified number of Dassault Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets to Ukraine.

The announcement came during a live interview on French TV following the 80th anniversary of the D-Day commemorations in Normandy.

"Tomorrow we will launch a new cooperation and announce the transfer of Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets to Ukraine, made by French manufacturer Dassault, and train their Ukrainian pilots in France," Macron stated. However, he did not provide details on the number of planes or the timeline for their delivery.

This development follows months of discussions about the potential transfer. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed in February that Ukraine was in negotiations with France for fighter planes.

The Mirage 2000-5, introduced in 1984, can carry various air-to-surface and air-to-air missiles, including laser-guided bombs. It has enhanced radar and extra fuel tanks, extending its range and optimizing it for air combat.

France is planning to transfer these jets to Ukraine, as they retired older Mirage 2000Cs in 2022 and are upgrading the Mirage 2000Ds. With 37 Mirage 2000-5s built in the 1990s, these jets are set for retirement by 2029. French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu has mentioned that new Dassault Rafales might arrive sooner, speeding up the transfer to Ukraine.

President Macron announced the immediate delivery of five Mirage 2000-5 fighters to Ukraine, with more possible. The French Aerospace Forces currently have 27 Mirage 2000-5s and at least 60 Mirage 2000Ds. The Mirage 2000-5 and 2000-9 models feature weapons systems for MICA missiles with a range of up to 60 km and potential for MBDA Meteor missiles with a range of 130-160 km. Equipped with modern radars, these jets can detect targets up to 140 km away, making them competitive with Russian fighters.

The Mirage 2000-5Mk2/9 can also be fitted with sighting systems and long-range cruise missiles, which can be launched from regional highways in Western Ukraine, making them hard to counter.

Meanwhile, several countries, including the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, and Belgium, have already committed to supplying Ukraine with dozens of F-16 jets, further strengthening its defensive and offensive potential.

France is also reportedly considering sending trainers to help the Ukrainian military. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov warned that no instructors training the Ukrainian military, French or otherwise, have immunity.

Russian President Vladimir Putin cautioned that Russia could use nuclear weapons if its sovereignty or territory were threatened. He suggested Moscow might arm countries to target Western interests, stating, "If someone supplies such weapons to attack us, why can't we supply weapons to regions where strikes on sensitive facilities of those countries could occur?" He did not specify which countries might receive these weapons.