France has announced that it will send Mirage 2000 fighter jets to Ukraine, equipped with Storm Shadow/SCALP missiles, bolstering Ukraine’s operational strength against Russia.
France is preparing to deliver Dassault Aviation’s Mirage 2000 fighter jets to Ukraine, with a target delivery date in the first half of 2025, according to French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu. While Ukraine has been using Storm Shadow/SCALP missiles received from the UK and France, it has had limited aircraft capable of launching them.
F-16s Were Not Configured to Launch Storm Shadow Missiles
The F-16 fighter jets provided to Ukraine by the U.S. were not designed to deploy Storm Shadow missiles. As a result, Ukraine had to rely on Soviet-designed Su-24 aircraft for this purpose. With the addition of Mirage 2000 jets, Ukraine will gain an additional aerial platform capable of firing these powerful missiles.
Increased Range and Strike Capability with More Aircraft
Military aviation expert Tim Robinson from the Royal Aeronautical Society highlighted that having more aircraft capable of launching Storm Shadow missiles gives Ukraine a strategic advantage. With the Mirage 2000 jets, Ukraine’s strike range and impact potential are expected to expand.
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