Ukraine’s air force received a significant boost on Thursday with the arrival of Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets from France and F-16s from the Netherlands, strengthening its efforts against Russia.
French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu confirmed the delivery of the Mirage jets, noting that Ukrainian pilots, who had been training in France for months, flew the aircraft. French President Emmanuel Macron had pledged to send the Mirage jets to Ukraine last summer.
“The Ukrainian sky is becoming more secure!” said Ukraine’s Defense Minister, Rustem Umerov, on Facebook.
Umerov welcomed the arrival of the “first French Mirage 2000 fighter jets and F-16s from the Kingdom of the Netherlands,” emphasizing that these advanced aircraft would soon begin combat missions to bolster Ukraine’s defense and improve its ability to counter Russian aggression.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his gratitude to Macron on Thursday, thanking him for his leadership and support. “France’s president keeps his word, and we appreciate it,” Zelensky wrote.
These new jets are expected to enhance Ukraine’s capabilities in providing air support for ground forces, attacking enemy targets, engaging in air combat, and intercepting incoming missiles. The latter task has become increasingly crucial as Russia has escalated its missile attacks on Ukrainian cities, sometimes launching dozens in a single night, which strains Ukraine’s air defense systems.
A recent Russian missile strike on a residential building in central Ukraine killed at least 14 people. In December, a Ukrainian F-16 pilot destroyed six Russian missiles in a single night.
Military aviation expert Peter Layton from the Griffith Asia Institute suggested that the Mirage jets may be particularly effective for air defense, allowing the F-16s to focus on other critical missions.
Peter Layton, a military aviation expert, explained that the Mirage jets can get airborne more quickly than F-16s. He suggested keeping the Mirages on ground alert, enabling them to take off within minutes to intercept incoming cruise missiles, their primary target, and Shahed drones, their secondary target.
Layton also mentioned that the Mirages could be used to launch longer-range missiles, such as the SCALP (Storm Shadow), at targets deep inside Russia. He emphasized that the Mirages would add significant capabilities to Ukraine’s arsenal.
Military analyst Cedric Leighton pointed out that the Mirages could give Ukraine another option to target Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, as the jets are capable of carrying French-made Exocet anti-ship missiles.
Ukraine’s air fleet
Ukraine continues to face immense challenges in its nearly three-year war, which began with Russia’s invasion in 2022. Despite promises from former US President Donald Trump to quickly broker a ceasefire upon his potential return to the White House, the fighting has shown no signs of easing.
Ukraine’s military is still being pushed back on the eastern front, struggling against Russia’s greater manpower and resources.
While the recent announcements on Thursday did not reveal the exact number of fighter jets transferred from the two NATO allies, Ukraine’s air force has had limited Western warplanes in its fleet so far.
Ukraine received its first F-16s last summer, with President Zelensky expressing gratitude to the Netherlands, Denmark, and the United States for supplying the jets, though the exact number delivered was not disclosed.
Reports indicate that two F-16s have been lost. According to Flight Global’s list of global combat aircraft, Ukraine’s fleet had two F-16s as of early this year, with 58 more on order.
France had 26 Mirage 2000-5 jets in active service at the start of 2025, but these are the oldest aircraft in France’s air force and are expected to be replaced by Rafale jets in the coming years. It is unclear how many Mirage jets will be transferred to Ukraine.
Military expert Peter Layton noted that current estimates suggest Ukraine will receive around 95 F-16s and about two dozen Mirages. However, he cautioned that neither of these aircraft will be available in enough numbers to meet Ukraine’s air combat needs in the ongoing war with Russia. In an ideal scenario, the Ukrainian Air Force would require around 200 to 220 fighter jets.
