War in Ukraine: “Ukrainian pilot training is complete!” French Mirage 2000s soon to be engaged on the front

Equipped for air combat, the French Mirage 2000-5Fs will certainly fly in Ukrainian colors during the month of January. And for good reason, the Ukrainian pilots and mechanics trained to fly and maintain French combat planes have reportedly finished their training.

This Wednesday, December 25, it was the well-informed account X of French Aid to Ukraine which announced this news. “After six months, the training of Ukrainian pilots and mechanics on the Mirage 2000-5F is completed. Merry Christmas!”, could we read in the message published partly in English and partly in Ukrainian.

These Mirage 2000-5Fs are part of the aid promised by France to Ukraine. The number of planes supplied was not communicated by the French authorities. The most optimistic Ukrainian sources mention “12 to 20 combat aircraft transferred by Paris to Ukraine in 2025” but it seems that the total number is much lower. “I am not communicating on the number of Mirage-5Fs, but it is progressing,” Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu indicated in October. “Deliveries will take place in the first quarter of 2025,” he said again.

At the end of October, the Tribune mentioned the number of three aircraft delivered out of the 26 Mirage 2000-5F in service with the French Air Force.

Mica and Scalp missiles, AASM bombs, two cannons…

In addition to Mica air-to-air missiles, these three Mirage 2000-5Fs will be armed with AASM bombs for air strikes and Scalp cruise missiles. Two 30 mm cannons will complete its armament. In addition, they will have electronic warfare equipment to resist Russian jamming. Their mission will be to carry out air strikes and “anti-electronic warfare defense” operations.

The pilots and mechanics required to operate on these planes were trained on the Nancy base.