The French Ministry of Armed Forces announced on August 19, 2025, that two upgraded Mirage 2000D RMV fighter aircraft have been deployed to Air Base 188 “Colonel Massart” in Djibouti. These jets join three Mirage 2000-5F fighters already operated by Fighter Squadron 3/11 “Corse,” significantly enhancing France’s rapid reaction capability in the Horn of Africa and reinforcing air control over strategic maritime corridors.
The Mirage 2000D RMV features advanced avionics, NATO-standard data links, MICA air-to-air missiles, precision-guided munitions, and a 30mm cannon pod. This modernization provides the French Air and Space Force with a versatile multirole strike and support platform capable of adapting to a wide range of missions.
Derived from the Mirage 2000 family, the two-seat aircraft retains its robust delta-wing design while being powered by the SNECMA M53-P2 turbofan engine generating 95 kN of thrust. The RMV standard introduces a glass cockpit, digital mission computer, Link 16 integration, and upgraded electronic warfare systems, boosting survivability and mission effectiveness in complex combat environments.
For France, basing these aircraft in Djibouti is both a strategic necessity and a continuation of long-term defense policy. Located at the crossroads of the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Indian Ocean, Djibouti serves as France’s main military stronghold in Africa. Deploying Mirage 2000D RMVs ensures France maintains a credible airpower presence, secures navigation in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, and protects French and allied forces across East Africa.
The move coincides with the 2024 renewal of the bilateral defense agreement with Djibouti, which extended France’s military presence for another 20 years. It highlights Paris’s commitment to deterrence, crisis response, and multinational cooperation along the Indo-Pacific–East Africa axis, where geopolitical competition is on the rise.
Although the modernization program expanded the aircraft’s combat capabilities, some limitations remain. The lack of funded air-to-air symbology integration for the 30mm cannon pod reduces its effectiveness in dogfight scenarios against agile threats such as drones and helicopters.
Nonetheless, the deployment of Mirage 2000D RMVs to Djibouti marks a significant step in France’s regional airpower posture, strengthening operational readiness, reinforcing strategic partnerships, and safeguarding one of the world’s most contested maritime chokepoints.
