Negotiations between France and Ukraine for delivery of 6 Mirage 2000 combat aircraft.

According to reports by Intelligence Online, ongoing discussions are taking place between France and Ukraine. The primary focus of these talks is the potential transfer of six Dassault Mirage 2000 combat aircraft to the Ukrainian Air Force.

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French Mirage 2000 multi-role fighter. (Picture source: Dassault Aviation)

French and Ukrainian representatives, notably Sebastien Lecorneau and Rustem Umerov, are key figures in these negotiations. The main goal for Ukraine is to strengthen its air combat capabilities, particularly against the dominance of Russian aerospace forces in the region. This year, there has been a significant increase in reports of the destruction of Russian air equipment, highlighting the urgency of Ukraine's request.

The French parliament has been informed of Kyiv's request for combat aircraft, specifically Rafale or Mirage 2000 jets. This request was made public by French deputy Julien Bayou, who emphasized the critical need to supply these aircraft and radars for Ukrainian Sukhois and MiGs. Bayou also proposed a strategy to indirectly assist Ukraine by supplying Rafales and Mirages to third-party countries, which could then transfer their F-16s and MiG-29s to Ukraine.

The Mirage 2000 is a fighter aircraft designed and manufactured by Dassault Aviation, a French company. This multi-role fighter made its first flight on March 10, 1978. It was officially introduced into service in July 1984 and continues to be in use today.

Primarily designed for the French Air and Space Force, the Mirage 2000 has also been adopted by several other air forces around the world, including those of the United Arab Emirates, Taiwan, and India.

The production of the Mirage 2000 spanned from 1978 to 2007, during which 601 units were built. There are several variants of the Mirage 2000, including the Mirage 2000N/2000D, tailored to different missions and operational needs. The Mirage 2000 also served as a basis for the development of the Mirage 4000, another advanced combat aircraft from Dassault Aviation.

If this information proves to be true, the number of Mirages might not be sufficient to change the balance of aerial power in Ukraine. However, it could enable the training of more pilots on such aircraft and pave the way for more donations of this type.