The French Minister of the Armed Forces, Sébastien Lecornu, recently announced that France has handed over the first batch of Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets to Ukraine following the completion of Ukrainian pilot training.
Reports indicate that six Mirage 2000-5 jets have been delivered. Ukrainian air and ground crews were reportedly trained at Nancy Air Base, while technical modifications to the aircraft and subsequent technical training were carried out at Cazaux Air Base.
Earlier reports suggested that the jets supplied to Ukraine have been optimized for precision strikes, including the integration of Storm Shadow/Scalp missiles.
Additionally, the fighter’s self-protection system has been upgraded to enhance survivability against enemy radar, electronic warfare, and missile threats in light of Russia’s sophisticated multi-echelon air defense capabilities.
Mirage 2000-5 vs F-16
Before the arrival of the Mirage 2000-5 fighters, Ukraine was already operating F-16 AM/BM Block 15 Mid-Life Update (MLU) variants donated by several European nations, including the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, and Greece.
The transfer of F-16s to Ukraine by these NATO countries did not significantly alter the course of the war in Ukraine, leading many experts to dismiss the threat posed by Mirage 2000-5 fighters to Russian forces.
Both the F-16 and Mirage 2000 are multirole fighters optimized for air-to-air combat and precision ground attack; they are similar in size, weight, and combat radius.
The F-16s are equipped with the AN/APG-66(V)2 radar, which has a detection range of 110 km. They can also be fitted with LANTIRN and Litening targeting pods for precision-guided munitions. For strike missions, F-16s carry precision-guided munitions and bombs, and for air combat, they are armed with AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles.
In contrast, the Mirage 2000-5 is equipped with the RDY radar, which can detect a fighter-sized target at approximately 100–120 km under optimal conditions.
Given their many similarities, it might seem that the Mirage 2000-5 poses no additional threat to Russian forces beyond the risk associated with larger numbers.
However, in the context of the Ukrainian war, the Mirage 2000-5 has a significant advantage: its long-range strike capability, which stems from its ability to carry and launch Storm Shadow missiles. This crucial capability is often overlooked amid the focus on their similarities.
Strike Role
One of the deadliest weapons in the Ukrainian arsenal is the Storm Shadow missile.
Currently, the Ukrainian Air Force uses the Soviet-era SU-24MR fighter bomber to launch Storm Shadow missiles.
MBDA, the manufacturer of the Storm Shadow, adapted the missile for the SU-24MR in just a few weeks by using adapter pylons from retired RAF Tornado jets. These adapters enabled the missiles to connect to the aircraft’s power supply, ensuring that all missile systems were operational and launch-ready before takeoff.
However, this integration is likely rudimentary. It is unlikely that the Storm Shadow can interface with the SU-24MR’s flight and weapons management systems; instead, target and routing information probably must be programmed into the missile before it is mounted on the Tornado pylons. This limitation reduces the weapon’s versatility.
In contrast, when mounted on a Mirage 2000-5, the Storm Shadow can interface with the aircraft’s flight and weapons management systems, which would increase launch accuracy and provide greater targeting flexibility.
Stealthier Launch Platform
The Mirage 2000-5 is a smaller and stealthier launch platform than the Su-24MR. Consequently, it is less likely to be detected early by Russian air defense radars, enabling it to operate closer to Russian territory and thereby extend the effective range of the Storm Shadow missile.
Electronic Warfare Suite
The Mirage-2000-5 is equipped with the ICMS Mk 2 electronic warfare (EW) system, which includes radar warning receivers, jammers, and chaff and flare dispensers. This system is designed to detect, prioritize, and counter radar threats, offering some level of protection against radar detection.
Using its EW capability, the Mirage 2000-5 could route through gaps in the Russian AD radar coverage to evade detection and launch from closer to the line of contact or even slip into and launch from within Russian-held territory.
Limited Su-24 Inventory
Ukraine is now using Storm Shadow missiles less frequently than in the past for strikes into Russia. The drop in Storm Shadow attacks has been widely attributed to a drop in Ukraine’s Storm Shadow inventory.
This is unlikely. While there have been several reports about shortages of UK-manufactured Storm Shadow missiles, there have been no reports of any shortages of France-manufactured SCALP missile, an analog of the Storm Shadow.
There have also been several reports that due to air combat losses, Ukraine’s inventory of SU-24MR fighter bombers is now critically depleted.
Most likely, the drop in Ukrainian Storm Shadow / Scalp attacks is attributable to the limited number of SU-24MR launch platforms available with the Ukrainian Air Force, not a shortage of the missile.
New Missile Attack Profiles
Over the past two years, Russian AD forces have become adept at detecting, tracking, and engaging Storm Shadow missiles.
Consequently, fewer missiles are striking their targets now, as compared to earlier. This could change with the use of Mirage 2000-5 as the launch platform. Launch distances, parameters, and flight profiles to achieve those parameters will likely differ when Ukraine starts using Mirage 2000-5s to launch strikes, forcing Russian AD forces to develop new tactics.
Air Combat Capability
The air combat capability of the Mirage 2000 poses an additional threat to Russian Aerospace Forces fighters.
For air combat, Ukrainian Mirage 2000-5 fighters are likely to be equipped with the French MICA air-to-air missile, roughly an analog of the US AMRAAM missile.
The MICA is a multi-role missile suitable for both short-range and medium-range engagements. There are two main variants.
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MICA RF: Uses active radar homing guidance.
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MICA IR: Employs passive infrared homing for greater stealth.
The effective engagement range of the missile is 80 km.
It’s likely that the deployment of the MICA-equipped Ukrainian Mirage 2000-5 will push Russian Su-35 combat air patrol fighters deeper into Russian territory, allowing Mirage 2000-5 fighters to sneak in closer to targets under Russian control.
Conclusion
The Ukrainian Air Force appears to have deployed its F-16 fleet largely for air defense against Russian long-range cruise missiles. It’s likely that it will deploy the Mirage 2000-5 in both air defense and long-range strike roles.
Russia does have something to worry about.
- Vijainder K Thakur is a retired IAF Jaguar pilot, author, software architect, entrepreneur, and military analyst.
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