As drones change the nature of aerial warfare, older fighter jets are getting a new role as drone hunters.
In the Ukraine War, the F-16 Fighting Falcon primarily performs an air defense role, intercepting incoming missiles and drones.
Similarly, the French Mirage 2000 D and the U.S.-made A-10 Warthog, two fighter aircraft known for their exceptional ground-attack capabilities and now nearing the end of their life cycles, are being explored as drone hunters.
Upgrading these fighter aircraft, which were commissioned in the 1980s, will ensure their continued relevance in the age of stealth aircraft and drone warfare.
According to reports, the French army is upgrading its Mirage 2000D RMV fighter jets to adapt them to new challenges, in particular counter-drone operations.
Similarly, at least one U.S. Air Force A-10C Warthog has been spotted supporting kill markings revealing drone kills, confirming that the legendary fighter jet, also known as ‘tankbuster,’ is using laser-guided air-to-ground rockets as counter-drone weapons in an operational context.
These new roles could give these fighter jets a new lease of life, as they are nearing the end of their life cycles. The US Air Force (USAF) is planning to retire its entire fleet of A-10C Warthog aircraft by next year.
Similarly, the French Air Force has retired its entire fleet of Mirage 2000C variants; however, the upgraded Mirage 2000D variant will remain in active service for at least the next decade.
French Mirage 2000D RMV Fighter Jets to Become Drone Hunters?
The French Air & Space Force (AAE) is upgrading its Mirage 2000D fleet to operate alongside Rafale fighter jets at least until 2030.
The upgraded aircraft have already received new MICA IR missiles to replace the outdated Magic II missiles, as well as a CC422 30mm gun pod. However, it is currently only used to support ground forces, as there is no targeting system for air combat, according to opex360.
The French military is considering options to equip the Mirage 2000D with counter-drone capabilities.
“The Mirage 2000D has not had its last word,” declared General Jérôme Bellanger, Chief of Staff of the Air and Space Force [CEMAAE], in the 500th issue of Air Fan magazine.
“We are studying options that have emerged from our reflections on current conflicts, such as the possibility of adapting low-cost weapons to deal with the Shahed drone threat. These weapons systems are proliferating in all theaters and, in the context of a major engagement, it is unthinkable to consume our most sophisticated and costly weapons to destroy them,” explained General Bellanger.
He underlined that, in Ukraine, “we will soon exceed the threshold of a thousand Geran 2 drones (the Russian version of the Iranian Shahed-136) launched by Russia in a single night.”
While the CEMAAE has not detailed the options currently under consideration, one solution would likely be to equip the Mirage 2000D with the ability to fire laser-guided rockets, such as the ACULEUS-LG supplied by Thales, it said.
Notably, the Mirage 2000D and Rafale fighter jets have already conducted counter-drone operations in the Red Sea this year. Upgrading Mirages as a dedicated counter-drone fighter jet will free Rafales for higher-end operations.
Another advantage is that by employing fighter jets, militaries can save their costly surface-to-air missiles. For instance, the expensive Patriot SAMs cannot be consistently used to down cheap drones such as the Geran 2.
The transformation of the Mirage-2000D strike bomber into a flexible counter-drone platform will be closely watched by other NATO countries, many of whom are exploring options to upgrade their fighter jets to tackle the rising threat of drone warfare.
Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, it seems that the U.S. Air Force is already using its ground-support fighter aircraft, the A-10 Warthog, as a counter-drone platform.
USAF A-10 Warthog Displays Drone Kill Marks
A U.S. Air Force A-10 Warthog has recently returned from its deployment in the Middle East and has been spotted supporting ‘drone kill’ marks.
The A-10C Warthog, which was posted with CENTCOM, was photographed with two Shahed-type drone silhouettes, suggesting that the ground-support aircraft was also used for counter-drone operations in the Middle East, probably over the Red Sea, to down drones launched by the Houthis or Iran.
The photographs of the aircraft were published by @mhtplanes, a New England-based aviation photographer, on X.
TABOR61 (mixed the callsigns on the first flight 😅) arriving at PSM after a trip from Lajes! pic.twitter.com/pJwwJAgtJL
— Alex (@mhtplanes) October 10, 2025
The pictures were taken at the Portsmouth air base after the aircraft returned from Lajes, following a six-month deployment with CENTCOM under Operation Inherent Resolve.
The A-10 Warthog is particularly suited for counter-drone operations due to its slow speed and ability to maintain stable flight at low altitudes.
Besides, its magazine depth, employing a GAU-8 Avenger, a 30mm seven-barrel Gatling cannon, could also be utilized for counter-drone operations.
The Gatling gun is a unique weapon mounted on its snout. Its rapid bursts — seven barrels firing 65 rounds per second — could easily destroy the filmsy Shahed-type drones.
Furthermore, the aircraft has been equipped to employ the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS II) in the air-to-air role.
Notably, the Pentagon’s 2026 budget request cleared the use of APKWS II rockets with the Fixed-Wing Air-Launched Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems Ordnance (FALCO) software on the A-10 Warthogs, F-16s, and F-15E.
The aircraft uses 70mm Hydra rockets for counter-drone operations.
The APKWS II costs less than one-tenth of the price tag for an air-to-air missile. Furthermore, an aircraft can carry only a few air-to-air missiles; however, using 70mm rockets provides an expanded magazine depth, which is effective for tackling multiple drones in a single sortie.
Notably, in July, the US Air Force (USAF) announced plans to retire its entire A-10 Warthog fleet by 2026.
At that time, the EurAsian Times had suggested that these aircraft could be utilized for counter-drone and anti-ship operations.
It remains to be seen if the new, expanded role of the A-10 Warthog as a counter-drone platform will ensure its continued services beyond 2026.
However, what can be safely said is that in the future, more and more fourth-generation aircraft will be equipped with specialized counter-drone weapon systems.
- Sumit Ahlawat has over a decade of experience in news media. He has worked with Press Trust of India, Times Now, Zee News, Economic Times, and Microsoft News. He holds a Master’s Degree in International Media and Modern History from the University of Sheffield, UK.Â
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