Ukraine may be on track to receive additional Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets from countries currently operating the platform, following remarks made by French President Emmanuel Macron. While France has already committed to transferring a number of its own Mirage 2000-5 aircraft, Macron’s latest statement hints at ongoing diplomatic efforts to secure further donations from allied nations.
Although no country has officially confirmed its intent to provide the aircraft, seven nations besides France operate approximately 240 Mirage 2000s in various configurations. These include Egypt, Greece, India, Peru, Qatar, Taiwan, and the United Arab Emirates. However, each case comes with distinct geopolitical and operational considerations that may either enable or hinder any potential transfer to Ukraine.
India, for instance, has significantly modernized its Mirage fleet and maintains strategic defense relations with Russia—factors that reduce the likelihood of any re-export. Egypt’s dependence on Russian defense systems and its broader geopolitical balancing act similarly limit its flexibility. Taiwan, under constant threat from mainland China, is unlikely to part with its own fighters, while Peru’s Mirage fleet is reportedly plagued by readiness issues due to aging airframes and limited upgrades.
Greece, on the other hand, emerges as a more plausible partner. With 24 Mirage 2000-5 aircraft in service and plans underway to retire them in the coming years, Athens could be open to transferring the fleet—especially following its unsuccessful bid to sell them to India. Such a deal may be integrated into broader defense cooperation with France, possibly linked to future Rafale acquisitions.
In the Gulf, both Qatar and the UAE have fielded some of the most advanced Mirage 2000 variants, including the -5 and -9 models. With both countries having recently acquired Rafale fighters, the possibility of redirecting surplus Mirage 2000s to Ukraine is not off the table, pending political will and logistical feasibility.
While Macron’s comments signal high-level coordination, concrete decisions remain pending. Nevertheless, the possibility of Mirage 2000 fighters bolstering the Ukrainian Air Force remains a realistic scenario—one that could provide the embattled country with a capable multirole platform at a critical juncture in the conflict.
