Summary and Key Points: France announced it will supply Ukraine with Dassault Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets and begin training Ukrainian pilots this summer, aiming to complete training by the end of the year.

-The plan was revealed by French President Emmanuel Macron during the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings.

-Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the move, emphasizing Europe's strength against threats. The Mirage 2000-5, an advanced air superiority fighter with improved radar and modernized systems, will support Ukraine's defense.

-The jets will complement the American-made F-16s Ukraine is also set to receive, enhancing its ability to protect its airspace.

Why the Mirage 2000 Fighter Matters 

Last week, France announced it would supply Ukraine with an undisclosed number of Dassault Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets, and begin to train Ukrainian pilots this summer with a goal of completing the training by the end of this year. French President Emmanuel Macron announced the plan on Thursday as he marked the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings that helped liberate Western Europe from the Nazis during the Second World War.

"Your combat aviation, brilliant fighter jets under Ukrainian pilots' command will prove that Europe is stronger, stronger than evil which dared to threaten it," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told French lawmakers last week, according to a report from Reuters.

Zelensky was among the world leaders who gathered in Normandy last week to mark the D-Day anniversary.

"We'll be launching a new cooperation program and announcing the transfer of Mirage 2000-5s ­ French fighter jets that will enable Ukraine to protect its soil and airspace," President Macron added. "From tomorrow, we’re going to launch a pilot training program, followed by the transfer of these aircraft."

The Mirage 2000 Fighter – No Illusion

Marcon told the French-language Le Figaro that the Mirage 2000-5 are the models that Ukraine will receive. As Newsweek reported, while newer than the older Mirage 2000D ground attack variants, Kyiv will receive a variant largely designed as an air superiority fighter.

However, as Ukraine is already set to receive the American-made F-16 Fighting Falcon, which can be used in ground attacks, it is possible the Mirage 2000s would serve as escorts and help clear the skies of Russian combat aircraft. As with the other models, the Mirage 2000-5 is a single-engine fighter, and it has been updated with improved radar.

As previously reported, the French-based Dassault produced a total of 601 Mirage 2000s in all configurations between 1978 and 2007. During that timeframe, it served as the backbone of the French Air Force while further scoring success in the export market. Moreover, though it bore a superficial resemblance to the dynasty of Dassault's "delta-winged" fighters that preceded it, the aircraft featured marked advances over the earlier Mirages in structure, aerodynamics, propulsion, and systems.

The Mirage 2000 features CCV (controls configured vehicles) technology, including fly-by-wire (FWB) controls that offer instant response to pilot input. The aircraft has been steadily updated, and the first "second generation" Mirage 2000 was introduced in 1990 as the Mirage 2000-5, an export-optimized multirole combat aircraft. Initially tested as a two-seater, it was subsequently joined by a single-seat model.

The main feature of the Mirage 2000-5 was the inclusion of the Thales RDY multi-mode radar, which was further complemented by a modernized cockpit, improved self-defense suite, and new MICA air-to-air missiles as well as a variety of guided and unguided air-to-surface ordnance. The aircraft remains in service with the French Air Force – though it is now being replaced by the Dassault Rafale – but also with air forces of India, the UAE, Taiwan, Greece, Egypte, Qatar, and Peru – and by the end of the year will be in service with the Ukrainian Air Force.

Author Experience and Expertise: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].

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