The first deployment of the Mirage 2000D after the upgrade
The French Air and Space Forces (Armée de l'Air et de l'Espace) have deployed upgraded Dassault Mirage 2000D attack aircraft in East Africa for the first time. Two planes arrived at the French operational base at the Ambouli International Airport in Djibouti. This deployment was the first since the April announcement of the commissioning of an upgraded version of the aircraft under the Mid-Life Upgrade (MLU) program.
A new role in a strategically important region
The Mirage 2000D will operate in conjunction with the Mirage 2000-5F fighters already in Djibouti. Their main tasks include:
SuCAP (Surface Close Air Protection) — close air support for ground forces;
patrolling Djibouti's airspace;
protection of territorial waters;
Ensuring the safety of maritime supply routes and freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
This region remains one of the most tense in the world due to threats of piracy, regional instability and geopolitical pressure from various external players.
What does the Mirage 2000D-MLU upgrade include?
The mid-term modernization program (Mid-Life Upgrade) will affect 52 French two-seat attack aircraft. Major improvements:
Installation of a 30 mm DEFA cannon, which significantly enhances the capabilities of direct air support (CAS);
Integration of Mica IR air–to-air missiles for self-defense, replacing obsolete Magic 2;
Support for precision weapons, including GBU-48 and GBU-50 laser and GPS guided bombs;
An updated glass cockpit with digital displays and an improved data transmission system, increasing situational awareness of pilots.
These changes make the Mirage 2000D more versatile and combat-ready in the context of modern conflict.
Djibouti is France's key base in Africa
The deployment of the upgraded Mirages highlights Djibouti's strategic importance to French military policy. After the withdrawal of troops from Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, as well as the reduction of the presence in Gabon and Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti became the only major operational military base of France in Africa.
Paris' long-term commitments in the region
In early 2025, France and Djibouti ratified an updated Defense Cooperation Agreement, which extends the French military presence in the country for the next 20 years. This confirms Paris' commitment to stability in East Africa and the fight against terrorism, illegal migration and threats to maritime security.
The French Air Force notes that the arrival of the Mirage 2000D "adds new operational capabilities" and "increases the speed of response to threats emerging in this strategic area."
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