**PARIS** — Ukraine received its first Mirage 2000 fighter jets promised by France on **Thursday**, as confirmed by French Armed Forces Minister **Sébastien Lecornu**. This delivery enhances Ukraine’s air capabilities, adding to the **F-16 jets** previously provided by allies last year.
The Mirage 2000 jets arrived with Ukrainian pilots on board, following several months of training in France. Lecornu mentioned in a [post on X](https://x.com/SebLecornu/status/1887436710021050400) that “they will now participate in defending the skies of Ukraine.”
The **Ministry of Defense of Ukraine** shared an image of a Mirage 2000 taking off in Ukrainian livery with the caption “Already in Ukraine.” This development is particularly significant as the Jets are compatible with NATO ordnance like the **Scalp/Storm Shadow** air-launched cruise missiles and various guided bombs.
In **June**, French President **Macron** announced the plan to deliver the Mirage 2000 jets, though specifics were sparse at that time. According to a budget document published in **October** by the National Assembly’s defense committee, France plans to deliver a total of **six Mirage 2000-5** jets to Ukraine.
The first delivery consists of **three aircraft**, equipped with **MBDA’s Mica** air-to-air missiles, **Scalp** cruise missiles, and **Safran’s AASM Hammer** guided bombs, as reported by the French daily **La Tribune**. The Mirage 2000-5 jets are outfitted with two **30 mm** cannons and nine hard points.
The Mirage 2000-5 is an air-superiority version, upgraded for Ukrainian needs to improve air-to-ground combat and counter electronic warfare, as noted by Lecornu. The aircraft, initially introduced in **1978**, has a combat mass of **9.5 tons** and a maximum take-off weight of **17.5 tons**. Its maximum speed exceeds **Mach 2.2**, and it can sustain operations for **2 hours and 40 minutes** at a range of **150 nautical miles**.
France intends to phase out the Mirage fleet, transitioning to **Dassault Aviation’s Rafale** jets. The planned retirement dates are **2029** for the Mirage 2000-5 and **2035** for the Mirage 2000 D.
The operational cost of a Mirage 2000 is estimated at **€17,000** per flying hour, compared to the **F-16**’s **$26,927** per flying hour, as reported by the U.S. Government Accountability Office in **2022**.
In separate news, Lecornu announced that the French parliament approved the **2025 budget**, increasing defense spending to **€50.5 billion**, which is a **€3.3 billion** increase from the previous year. This budget aims to facilitate the modernization of France’s military capabilities, including the acquisition of **14 Rafale jets**, **308 vehicles** within the Scorpion program, and various air-defense missiles.
