A Dassault M2000 Mirage, Armee de l’Air (French Air Force), takes off for a mission during Red Flag-Alaska 07-1 here on April 10. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt Joshua Strang)
France is considering the possibility of transferring Dassault Mirage fighter jets to Ukraine and training Ukrainian pilots in Poland, the country’s Minister of the Armed Forces, Sébastien Lecornu, revealed during a hearing in the French Senate on February 28.
Senator Philippe Follio asked Lecornu whether it is planned to transfer 12 Mirage 2000Cs which were placed out of service last summer to the Ukrainian Air Force. In turn, Senator Joël Harriot-Millam asked if it was true that Ukrainian pilots were going to be trained on the fighter jets in Poland.
The minister did not confirm the transfer of the planes or the training of pilots. However, he said that the West is currently working on transferring more ammunition to Ukraine.
At the same time, he admitted that “negotiations are underway with the Ukrainians regarding fighter jets and training.” The minister recalled the words of President Emmanuel Macron that there are no taboos.
Lecornu clarified that difficulties with the transfer of fighter jets to Ukraine are related to logistics, training, and maintenance capabilities.
The French Air and Space Force is currently operating 195 fighter jets, including 96 Rafale and 24 Mirage 2000-5F, and 68 Mirage-2000D. Last June, France decommissioned and stored its last 12 Mirage 2000Cs.
The Mirage 2000C features an upgraded radar, an identification friend or foe system as well as the ability to carry air-to-ground weapons, including rocket pods and different types of bombs. The fighter jet can also be armed with Exocet anti-ship missiles.
France became one of the main arms suppliers to Kiev forces after the start of the Russian special military operation in Ukraine last year. Paris has so far provided howitzers, armored vehicles, air defense systems and anti-tank missiles.
Western efforts to rebuild the Ukrainian Air Force gained momentum in the last few months. The United Kingdom and Poland have already agreed to train Ukrainian pilots. However, no country has made the decision to supply fighter jets as of yet.
