French Mirages Will Make Life Difficult for Occupiers: Forbes Explains What Threatens Russians
Date: 2025-02-10 Author: Кирило Загоруйко Categories: WAR
French contractors have modified the supersonic single-seat Mirage 2000-5 aircraft that were delivered to Ukraine. Now they can be armed with SCALP-EG cruise missiles, which France also supplies to Ukraine.
According to Forbes analyst David Ax, these fighters will expand the Ukrainian Air Force’s ability to deliver deep strikes, for example, against Russian command posts.
He noted that the Mirages will complement the growing F-16 fleet as part of the upgrade of the battered Ukrainian Air Force, which mostly made do with several hundred Soviet combat aircraft. "The Air Force has lost about 100 of these old planes. 85 F-16s and perhaps a dozen or more Mirage 2000s will supplement the remaining Soviet models," the analyst wrote.
Axe noted that the Mirages can perform ground attack missions because the French have modified the fighters not only to carry the SCALP-EG, but also to carry the Hammer glide bombs that Ukraine receives from France.
The SCALP-EGs are crucial. The 1.3-ton missiles, with a range of 250 km and bunker-piercing tandem warheads, can hit the occupiers where they are most vulnerable - in their headquarters.
Axe noted that the Mirages will only be useful if they have enough ammunition. "It is unclear how many SCALP-EGs Ukraine received from France and Italy. Perhaps only 100. It is also unclear how many missiles Ukraine has left after years of heavy fighting," the analyst shared his opinion, adding that France has promised to supply more of these missiles, but this will take some time.
