In early November 2024, France announced that it intends to transfer six Mirage 2000F-5 aircraft to Ukraine in the near future. At the time, it was emphasized that France was having difficulty implementing such a transfer.
According to Opex360, the French military industry is accelerating the production of Rafale aircraft from three to four per month to enable the transfer of Mirage 2000F-5 aircraft without putting too much strain on the French Air Force.
Read more: Ukraine’s Forces Secretly Use American Ghost-X UAVs with Artificial Intelligence Since 2022
The aforementioned aspect was discussed in particular the Chief of Staff of the French Air and Space Force (CEMAAE), General Jérôme Bellanger, at a meeting on November 20, 2024, with the Association of Defense Journalists (AJD).
According to him, the situation is as follows: the transfer of Mirage fighter jets to Ukraine will increase the burden on the French Air Force's existing Rafale ones, so the production of these aircraft should be accelerated, not just in terms of the number of jets per month.
The fact that of the 42 Rafale F4 aircraft ordered in January 2024 under a €5 billion contract, the first aircraft should be delivered in 2027, but this timeline should be accelerated. The French Air Force should receive the first Rafale aircraft under this contract much sooner.
As Defense Express, we can notice a certain paradox in French defense planning, which concerns the Mirage 2000F-5. According to the Military Programming Act 2024-2030, the French Air Force is expected to have 137 Rafale and 48 Mirage 2000 aircraft in service by 2030, with the Mirage 2000s scheduled to be retired after that year.
Why the French military cannot depart from their planned schedule to reinforce the Ukrainian Air Force with aircraft that are set to be retired in a few years is an open question.
As Defense Express reported France would increase production of AASM Hammer smart bombs in 2025.
Read more: The UK Defense Intelligence Explains Why russia’s Tactical Aviation Takes Center Stage
