Ukraine will receive modernised Mirage 2000-5 fighters: France will equip the aircraft with modern systems and ensure compatibility with JDAM-ER and SDB
It hasbeen officially confirmed that France will hand over Mirage 2000 fighter jets to Ukraine in the first quarter of 2025.
French Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu said that the jets will be equipped with modern weapons that can strike ground targets and electronic warfare systems.
Now there is specific information about the modifications of the transferred fighters.
Here's What We Know
Ukraine will receive the Mirage 2000-5 - this is a modernised version of the original Mirage 2000, designed to perform a variety of combat missions. The Mirage 2000-5 is equipped with modern avionics, including an improved RDY radar system, which allows it to detect and track multiple targets simultaneously. The aircraft is armed with air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles and is also capable of carrying bombs and other munitions.
The French side will install Thales' TV/CT CLDP containers, which will enable the use of bombs and missiles with semi-active laser guidance, including at night.
Ukrainian Mirage-2000-5s will also be able to use the most modern types of munitions, including JDAM-ER and SDB. Thanks to this, the aircraft can conduct bombing missions from a distance of 40km to the target, which will keep the aircraft and crew safe from most enemy air defence field installations.
The improved Mirage 2000-5 has the following characteristics:
- maximum speed - 2,336 km/h;
- combat radius - up to 1,550 kilometres;
- armament - MICA air-to-air missiles, JDAM-ER, SDB bombs, laser-guided missiles;
- radar station - Thales RDY;
- suspension equipment - CLDP containers, possible integration of Damocles for precision strike.
Minister Lecornu did not specify the amount of equipment to be transferred, but promised to give "all the decommissioned fighters", which, according to open sources, are 27 Mirage 2000-5 fighters and 7 Mirage 2000B two-seat aircraft.
Source: Defence Express