Ukraine Receives Advanced Mirage 2000-5 Jets from France

Ukraine has received its first batch of ex-French Dassault Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets, modified to carry SCALP-EG cruise missiles and Hammer glide bombs, enhancing its capability to strike deep into Russian-held territories. The arrival of these jets is seen as crucial for Ukraine's air force, which has lost around 100 older Soviet-era aircraft in combat and is now bolstering its fleet with modern fighters. French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu highlighted the importance of these aircraft in defending Ukraine's skies and disrupting Russian military coordination. However, the effectiveness of the Mirage 2000-5s is contingent on the availability of munitions, with estimates suggesting Ukraine may have as few as 100 SCALP-EGs at present. France is committed to providing more missiles, although production takes time due to the complexity involved. The Mirages will complement an existing fleet of Western F-16s and are expected to play a key role in ground-attack missions against Russian command posts.