France to Provide Mirage 2000 Fighter Jets to Ukraine... A 'Tailor-Made' Weapon Against the F-16?

French President Emmanuel Macron announced on June 6, 2024, that France would provide its domestically produced Dassault Mirage 2000 fighter jets to Ukraine. While France has maintained a relatively cautious stance on providing weapons to Ukraine, it appears to have determined that more support is needed to turn the tide of the war amid Russia's relentless offensive.

The fighter jets France will provide are the upgraded Mirage 2000-5F, and the number of aircraft has not been disclosed. The French Air Force currently operates 26 Mirage 2000-5s, which are slated to be replaced by Rafale fighter jets in the long term. Whether the Mirage 2000-5Fs to be provided to Ukraine will be gradually transferred after being replaced by Rafale jets within the French Air Force, or whether they will be delivered earlier before the deployment of Rafale jets, is still uncertain. However, it is expected that all aircraft will eventually be transferred to Ukraine over time.

The Mirage 2000-5F is an upgraded model based on the Mirage 2000C, developed from the late 1990s to the early 2000s. It underwent a complete overhaul of its onboard electronics (avionics), including its radar and electronic warfare systems, transforming it into a modern fighter jet. Notably, it is equipped with the MICA air-to-air missile. This missile can autonomously track and destroy its target after launch, allowing pilots to avoid aerial combat with enemy aircraft and attack from a safe distance.

Similar air-to-air missiles include the AIM-120 AMRAAM carried by the F-16AMs slated for delivery to the Ukrainian Air Force, and the R-77 RVV-AE carried by the Russian Air Force's Su-35. However, the MICA has the disadvantage of being significantly smaller and having a shorter range than these missiles. This is because France aimed to replace both its close-combat short-range missiles and its primary beyond-visual-range (BVR) missiles with the MICA. Reducing the number of missile types can increase operational efficiency. Although the MICA was developed based on this design philosophy, it suffers from shortcomings: it has a short range as a BVR missile and limited maneuverability as a short-range missile.

Due to these shortcomings, the MICA has been criticized for being 'short in length and short in leash,' and this has been cited as a reason why the Mirage 2000-5's air combat capabilities are considered inferior to those of the F-16. On the other hand, the MICA has the advantage of having two target detection sensors: radar and infrared imaging sensors. This allows it to launch multiple guided missiles simultaneously, neutralizing both electronic and infrared countermeasures. Considering this aspect, the MICA can be considered a unique feature of the Mirage 2000-5.

Meanwhile, France has significantly changed its previously reluctant stance on supporting Ukraine, including announcing last month that it was considering sending military instructors to the country.

Incidentally, France had previously attempted to buy back Mirage 2000-9s from the United Arab Emirates to provide to Ukraine, but the UAE refused the offer, and the aircraft were eventually transferred to Morocco, which the UAE desired. This exemplifies the heightened demand for used fighter jets.

The Mirage 2000, developed as a rival to the F-16, is expected to perform various missions in Ukraine, including air defense, ground attack, and reconnaissance.