Their role in the war could be crucial. How will the Ukrainian Armed Forces utilize the Mirage-2000 aircraft?

Ukraine has received its first Mirage-2000 fighters from France. Due to the specific features of the onboard systems and the range of armaments within the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, they will occupy a specialized niche in air defense aircraft.

The Mirage 2000-5F was developed to overcome France's technological lag in modern missile armament. The modernization included new avionics and the integration of versatile MICA missiles (with active and infrared guidance), which replaced the outdated Magic 2 and Super 530, writes "Military".

The modernization of the Mirage began in the 1980s, with the first updated prototype appearing in 1989. Although the 2000-5 version was initially intended for export, the French Air Force later recognized its necessity following experiences from the Gulf and Balkan wars.

In 1993, Dassault began lobbying the French government for orders to upgrade the Mirage 2000C to the 2000-5F version due to a lack of export contracts. As a result, the French Ministry of Defense financed the upgrade of 37 aircraft as a temporary solution until the arrival of the next-generation Rafale fighter.

The first upgraded 2000-5F aircraft were delivered to the French Air Force in 2000, attracting interest from Greece, Qatar, and the UAE. An enhanced version, the 2000-9, was developed for the UAE featuring an upgraded radar, new avionics, and increased flight range.

The modernization and production of the aircraft continued until November 23, 2007. At that time, Dassault announced the completion of production for new aircraft in this configuration and delivered the last Mirage 2000-5 Mk.2 to the Greek Air Force.

Technical Specifications

Ukraine is receiving the Mirage 2000-5F – these are upgraded Mirage 2000C fighters manufactured between 1982 and 1986 from the French Air Force. They are equipped with modern Link 16 communication systems, MICA missiles with active or infrared guidance, an RDY-2 radar, and an advanced engine.

Link 16 facilitates information exchange between aircraft and allows MICA missiles to be corrected over long distances. The aircraft can receive target designations from NATO AWACS aircraft.

The RDY-2 radar (from 1998-2000) detects aerial targets at distances of up to 120 km and ground targets at up to 40 km. It can simultaneously track 24 targets, engage 8, and attack 4 of them. As a pulse-Doppler radar, it is effective against low-flying targets.

In addition to detection and tracking, the radar is used to provide the missile with launch coordinates. The main missile armament consists of MICA guided missiles, designed as a modular platform with various guidance types. Its maximum range of 80 km is less than that of its counterparts: AIM-120 (120 km), Meteor (200+ km), R-77 (110 km), and Type 99 (120 km).

The infrared-guided variant has a range of 60 km and good maneuverability, but is heavier than its counterparts (113 kg). The warhead weighs 13 kg — three times less than that of radar-guided missiles. The maximum speed is Mach 4. A significant drawback is the high cost — around 2 million euros per missile, which is considerably more expensive than the AIM-9X Block 3 (600 thousand dollars) and AIM-120D (1.6 million dollars).

Potential Uses by the Armed Forces of Ukraine

The Mirage 2000-5F, designed as an air superiority fighter, could serve as a valuable complement to Ukrainian F-16s and Soviet aircraft. Although it falls short of the F-16 in capabilities, its role in the conflict could be one of the most crucial – intercepting cruise missiles and drones.

There is also the possibility of integrating French AASM guided bombs, although this will take time. Alternatively, as demonstrated by the experience of Soviet aircraft, it is possible to use bombs without full integration with the aircraft's systems. With the Link 16 system, the Mirage will be able to effectively communicate with each other and F-16s, exchanging data in real time.

Previously, "Telegraph" reported on how French Mirage 2000 fighters can assist on the front lines. This was discussed by the spokesperson for the Ukrainian volunteer army "South", Sergey Bratchuk.