NATO Presses Greece to Transfer Mirage 2000 Combat Jets to Ukraine
NATO allies are increasing pressure on Greece to transfer part of its Mirage 2000-5 fighter fleet to Ukraine amid the Russian invasion.
The push reflects broader NATO efforts to reinforce Kyiv’s air defenses using allies’ stockpiles, according to Piraeus-based news agency Kathimerini.
The move also tests Athens’ willingness to supply advanced weapons against Russia. The Hellenic government has historically maintained cautious ties with Moscow and has preferred providing older equipment to Ukraine, such as M-110 self-propelled howitzers that have been in service since the 1960s.
Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List
If approved, Greece would sell the Mirage jets through intermediaries such as France or Germany, which could then transfer them to Ukraine. Estonia has also expressed interest in facilitating the transfer.
The deals would be conducted under NATO’s Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL), which allows countries to replace donated weapons with newer US systems.
Washington and Paris are leading the effort, in collaboration with Eastern European allies including Poland, the Czech Republic, and Estonia.
Greece currently operates 25 Mirage 2000-5 fighters, acquired from France in the early 2000s, with maintenance contracts set to expire in 2027 as Paris transitions to more advanced homegrown jets, including the next-generation Rafale models.
Athens has already purchased 24 Rafales and is negotiating for up to 12 more at a reduced price in exchange for selling part of its Mirage fleet.
A decision on the Mirage sale could come before the NATO summit in The Hague in November, where allies plan to review future military aid to Ukraine.
The Mirage 2000
Developed by Dassault Aviation in the early 1980s, the Mirage 2000 is a fourth-generation multirole fighter designed to replace the French Air Force’s aging Mirage III fleet.
Over the years, the aircraft has been upgraded into several variants, including models built for front-line missions and nuclear strike roles.
Powered by an SNCEMA turbofan engine, the Mirage 2000 can reach speeds of up to Mach 2 (2,470 kilometers/1,535 miles per hour), with a range of 1,550 kilometers (963 miles) and an operational altitude of 17,060 meters (55,971 feet).
The jet measures about 14 meters (47 feet) long with a 9-meter (30-foot) wingspan. It carries revolver cannons, unguided rockets, air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles, and laser-guided bombs.
In addition to France and Greece, current Mirage 2000 operators include India, the UAE, Qatar, and China.
