Intelligence Online: Ukraine Seeks Mirage 2000-5 Jets From Qatar in Exchange for Drone Cooperation

Ukraine is seeking used Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets from Qatar in exchange for help with interceptor drones, sources told Intelligence Online.

According to the report, cooperation between Kyiv and Doha on counter-drone efforts has stalled due to disagreements over the Mirage fleet.

“Ukraine has long been interested in these aircraft, as have other countries and intermediaries. However, Doha is currently ignoring Kyiv’s request. As a result, negotiations on strengthening Qatar’s counter-drone capabilities have reached a deadlock,” the publication said.

Qatar has been trying for several years to sell its fleet of nine single-seat Mirage 2000-5EDA aircraft and three two-seat Mirage 2000-5DDA jets, which it purchased back in the 1990s.

Initially, the fighters attracted interest from the French private company ARES, which trained jet pilots. However, the company shut down in 2023 due to financial problems.

Later, Indonesia planned to purchase Mirage 2000-5 aircraft from Qatar, but postponed those plans in 2024.

Qatar’s Mirage 2000-5EDA aircraft are an upgraded version of the standard Mirage 2000-5.

They have been equipped with MICA air-to-air guided missiles, as well as the RDY radar, which provides improved capability for detecting aerial targets.

French Mirage 2000 fighters are already in service with Ukraine, and the Air Force would have little difficulty adapting to aircraft from Qatar.

As part of French military assistance, Ukraine is expected to receive between 12 and 20 fighter jets. One aircraft was lost in the summer of 2025.

In Ukraine, these fighters use MICA and Magic 2 air-to-air missiles to engage Russian aerial targets. They also employ AASM Hammer guided bombs to strike ground targets.