“Ukrainian sky becomes safer! The Ukraine Air Force received a long-awaited reinforcement — the first French Mirage 2000 and F-16 fighters from the Kingdom of the Netherlands,” he stressed on Thursday Rustem Umerov in his Facebook entry.
The Minister expressed his belief that fresh aircraft would shortly be utilized in combat actions in the war against Russia. "I am grateful to France for this strategically crucial contribution to our safety — Mirage 2000 will become a fresh component of the protection of Ukrainian sky," he noted.
"Supporting the Netherlands is another crucial step that brings us closer to triumph and provides reliable protection for Ukrainian cities and citizens," added the Minister.
New aircraft in the service of Ukraine. Emmanuel Macron announced it.
French defence minister Sebastien Lecornu reported on Thursday that the first French Mirage 2000 fighters were delivered to Ukraine, but did not give the number of machines transferred. The head of the French MON recalled that the transfer of machinery was announced by president Emmanuel Macron in June 2024.
"They were delivered to Ukraine present and with Ukrainian pilots trained in France, they will join the defence of the sky over Ukraine," wrote Minister on X.
Ukraine was to receive six modern fighters. They've been improved.
The study in the French Parliament on the budget shows that Ukraine should receive six Mirage 2000-5 fighters out of 26 of which the French armed forces have. The Defence Ministry never officially confirmed this number nor denied it.
However, it is known that the machines have undergone any method improvements. In October 2024, Sebastien Lecornu said that additional equipment was installed in them to attack ground targets, as well as electronic combat measures to counter Russian signal interference capabilities. The French Avions Legendaires service reported in January that the machines were adapted to carry the French-British SCAPP/Storm Shadow missiles.
Work on method modifications was carried out at Cazaux Air Base in the south of France. Ukrainian airmen trained at a base in Nancy, northeast of the country.
