The Arrival of France's First Mirage 2000 Jets in Ukraine
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Synopsis
The first Mirage 2000 fighter jets from France have officially arrived in Ukraine, as confirmed by French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu. The aircraft were piloted by trained Ukrainian pilots, marking a significant step in military cooperation between the two nations.
Key Takeaways
- First batch of Mirage 2000 jets delivered to Ukraine.
- Ukrainian pilots trained in France for several months.
- Exact number of jets delivered remains undisclosed.
- French Air Force has a limited fleet of Mirage 2000-5 jets.
- Macron commits to training 4,500 Ukrainian troops.
Paris, Feb 6 (NationPress) The initial shipment of Mirage 2000 fighter jets from France has landed in Ukraine, confirmed French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu on Thursday.
The aircraft were piloted by Ukrainian personnel who underwent training in France for several months, as stated in a social media update on platform X.
However, Lecornu did not disclose the exact quantity of jets delivered or the overall number France intends to send to Ukraine.
As reported by the French newspaper Le Monde, the French Air Force has a limited fleet, possessing only 26 Mirage 2000-5 jets out of approximately 200 Mirage and Rafale aircraft.
This number is barely sufficient for France to fulfill its daily operational responsibilities, according to a report by Xinhua citing Le Monde.
On June 6, 2024, French President Emmanuel Macron declared that France would supply Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets to Ukraine.
“We will initiate a new partnership and transfer Mirage 2000-5s,” Macron stated. The French president also committed to training an entire Ukrainian battalion of 4,500 troops for deployment on the frontline.
He emphasized that the delivery of French fighter jets “is not a factor of escalation” and assured that “these weapons will not be used to target civilians.” Furthermore, Macron did not rule out the possibility of sending military trainers to Ukraine.
“There should be no hesitation on this matter,” he mentioned during an interview.
The Mirage 2000 is a versatile, single-engine, fourth-generation jet fighter, produced by Dassault Aviation.
