MSGID: 2:292/854 190b245f
TZUTC: 0200
Ukraine has received the first of the Mirage fighter jets that France
promised. They are to help guard Ukrainian airspace and can fire cruise
missiles that can hit targets deep in Russia.
 
The first French Mirage 2000s "arrived in Ukraine today", French Defence
Minister Sebastien Lecornu said on X. "With Ukrainian pilots on board who have
trained in France for several months, they will now participate in the defence
of the air above Ukraine.
 
"Ukraine had a Soviet-made air force, but is in urgent need of new and more
modern aircraft to defend itself against Russia. The country has already
received F-16s from the Netherlands, among others, but according to experts it
will become stronger if it can also deploy other types of aircraft with
different qualities.
 
France is not saying how many Mirage 2000s the first shipment will contain.
For the time being, it would concern a handful of aircraft, French media
reported earlier.

--- DB4 - 20230201
 * Origin: AVIATION ECHO HQ (2:292/854)
SEEN-BY: 80/1 105/81 106/201 128/187 129/305 153/7715 154/110 221/1
SEEN-BY: 226/30 227/114 229/110 114 317 400 426 428 470 664 700 705
SEEN-BY: 280/464 291/111 292/854 2226 8125 301/1 320/219 322/757 335/364
SEEN-BY: 342/200 396/45 460/58 633/280 712/848 902/26 5001/100 5075/35
PATH: 292/854 229/426