On March 7, 2025, a Ukrainian-operated Mirage 2000 fighter jet reportedly shot down a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile, marking what may be the first confirmed instance of this French-supplied aircraft engaging in direct combat during the ongoing war in Ukraine. Photographs released by the Ukrainian Air Force show a pair of Mirage 2000 jets intercepting the missile, with one aircraft firing an air-to-air missile that struck the target at a near-right angle.
Mirage 2000 shatters Kh-101 in Ukraine’s fiery sky showdown
Photo credit: X
This event, if verified, represents a significant milestone in the deployment of Western-supplied fighter jets in the conflict. It occurred during a large-scale Russian missile and drone attack targeting Ukrainian infrastructure, prompting a robust defensive response from Ukraine’s military. The incident has drawn attention to the evolving role of advanced Western aircraft in Ukraine’s air defense strategy and the capabilities of the Mirage 2000 in modern warfare.
The Russian attack on March 7 unfolded as one of the most substantial aerial assaults on Ukraine since the war escalated in 2022. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia deployed 261 airborne threats, comprising 67 missiles and 194 drones. The missile arsenal included 35 Kh-101 and Kh-55SM cruise missiles launched from Tu-95 and Tu-22M3 strategic bombers, eight Kalibr cruise missiles fired from naval platforms, three Iskander-M ballistic missiles, four S-300 surface-to-air missiles repurposed for ground attacks, and eight Kh-59/69 air-launched guided missiles.
The drone component consisted of 194 Shahed loitering munitions and decoy unmanned aerial vehicles, designed to overwhelm Ukraine’s air defenses. Ukrainian officials reported that the barrage targeted critical infrastructure, including gas extraction facilities and energy systems, across regions such as Odesa, Poltava, Chernihiv, Ternopil, and Kharkiv. In Kharkiv, a missile struck near a residential building, injuring civilians and requiring emergency response efforts.
Ukraine’s defense against this assault involved a coordinated effort across multiple platforms. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that its forces destroyed 134 of the airborne targets, including 25 Kh-101 and Kh-55SM cruise missiles, eight Kalibr missiles, one Kh-59/69 missile, and 100 Shahed drones. An additional ten missiles failed to reach their targets, and 86 drones were lost without causing reported damage, possibly due to electronic warfare measures.
Beyond the Mirage 2000, Ukraine employed U.S.-supplied F-16 fighter jets, anti-aircraft missile units, mobile fire groups, and electronic warfare systems to counter the attack. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the involvement of both F-16s and Mirage jets, stating on social media, “Today, F-16 fighter jets and Mirage aircraft provided by France were used to protect Ukrainian skies. In particular, the Mirages successfully intercepted Russian cruise missiles.”
The operation highlighted Ukraine’s reliance on a mix of Soviet-era and Western-supplied hardware to defend against Russia’s aerial campaign, which has increasingly focused on disrupting civilian life and industrial capacity.
The origins of the Mirage 2000 in Ukraine trace back to a French commitment announced nearly a year earlier. On June 6, 2024, French President Emmanuel Macron revealed plans to supply Ukraine with an unspecified number of Mirage 2000-5F jets during a televised interview commemorating the D-Day landings, attended by Zelenskyy.
Macron emphasized that France would also train Ukrainian pilots and maintenance crews, a process estimated to take five to six months. French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu later clarified in October 2024 that six Mirage 2000-5F aircraft would be delivered by mid-2025, with the first three arriving in early 2025. Training occurred at Nancy Air Base in France, where Ukrainian personnel worked alongside the French Air Force’s 2/3 Champagne squadron, utilizing Mirage 2000B trainers.
The initial delivery took place on February 6, 2025, when Lecornu announced that the first jets had landed in Ukraine, piloted by Ukrainians trained in France. While France has not officially confirmed the total number of aircraft transferred, reports from sources like La Tribune suggest a maximum of six jets, with the remaining three expected by the end of the first quarter of 2025.
The Mirage 2000-5F, a multirole fighter developed by Dassault Aviation, brings a sophisticated set of capabilities to Ukraine’s air force. Designed initially for air superiority, the aircraft was modified for Ukraine to include air-to-ground roles, enhancing its versatility. It features the Thales RDY pulse-Doppler radar, capable of tracking up to eight targets simultaneously with look-down/shoot-down functionality, and a modernized cockpit with multifunction displays.
Standard armament includes MICA air-to-air missiles, available with radar or infrared guidance, offering beyond-visual-range engagement. For Ukraine, the jets were equipped with SCALP-EG cruise missiles, with a range exceeding 250 kilometers, and AASM Hammer guided bombs, enabling precision strikes. The March 7 engagement, however, showcased its air-to-air prowess, likely using a MICA missile to down the Kh-101, though the Ukrainian Air Force has not specified the weapon used.
From a military tactical perspective, the Mirage 2000’s ability to intercept a Kh-101 cruise missile reflects both its technical strengths and the challenges faced by its pilot. The Kh-101, an advanced Russian cruise missile, travels at subsonic speeds—approximately 560 miles per hour—and employs stealth features like a low radar cross-section and terrain-following flight paths, typically at altitudes below 100 meters.
Its range exceeds 2,500 kilometers, making it a formidable threat to distant targets. The Mirage 2000-5F’s RDY radar, with a detection range of about 60 nautical miles for fighter-sized targets, would need to be paired with precise situational awareness to locate and track such a low-flying, stealthy object. Ukrainian radar systems or allied intelligence likely provided initial targeting data, guiding the jets to the missile’s vicinity.
Once in range, the pilot faced a complex engagement. Photographs suggest the Mirage approached the Kh-101 on a collision course, firing its missile at a near-90-degree angle. This maneuver required the air-to-air missile—presumed to be a MICA—to execute a sharp turn, a capability within its design parameters due to thrust-vectoring and high maneuverability.
The MICA’s range, up to 80 kilometers in radar-guided mode, allowed the pilot to engage from a standoff distance, reducing exposure to potential Russian counterattacks. However, the low altitude and speed of the Kh-101 demanded precise timing and coordination, as the missile’s flight profile could exploit terrain to evade detection.
For a Ukrainian pilot, likely trained for months rather than years on the Mirage, this intercept would have been a demanding task, relying heavily on the aircraft’s avionics and the pilot’s ability to adapt to real-time conditions. Analysts note that while the Mirage 2000 excels in such scenarios due to its agility and radar, the engagement’s success also underscores Ukraine’s growing proficiency with Western systems.
The broader context of this event ties into Ukraine’s evolving air defense strategy amid shifting international support. The introduction of Mirage 2000s follows the arrival of F-16s in August 2024, supplied by nations like the Netherlands and Denmark, signaling a transition from Soviet-era MiG-29s and Su-27s to NATO-compatible platforms.
This shift comes as Ukraine faces a Russian air force with numerical superiority, bolstered by advanced systems like the Su-35 and S-400 defenses. The March 7 attack’s scale—67 missiles and 194 drones—illustrates the pressure on Ukraine’s defenses, exacerbated by a reported suspension of U.S. military aid, including intelligence sharing, earlier in 2025. France’s contribution, though limited to a handful of jets, aims to offset this gap, with the Mirage 2000 offering a complementary capability to the F-16’s air-to-air focus.
The outcome of the March 7 assault revealed both successes and limitations for Ukraine. While 134 targets were neutralized, significant damage occurred to energy infrastructure, with Naftogaz reporting hits on gas production facilities, though no casualties were noted. Repair efforts began immediately, but the attack’s impact on civilian life, particularly in Kharkiv, underscored Russia’s intent to disrupt normalcy.
Zelenskyy used the occasion to reiterate calls for stronger measures against Russia’s air campaign, stating, “The first steps toward real peace must include forcing the sole source of this war, Russia, to stop such attacks.” The Kremlin, however, rejected a proposed ceasefire days earlier, with Ambassador Andrey Kelin telling Sky News, “We will only accept the final version when we are going to sign it.”
As of March 9, 2025, the Mirage 2000’s reported success against the Kh-101 remains a focal point for military observers. Verification of the photographs and further details from Ukraine or France could solidify this as a landmark moment in the conflict.
The jets’ limited numbers—potentially six in total—mean their strategic deployment will be critical, balancing air defense with potential ground-attack roles. For now, the incident highlights the growing integration of Western technology into Ukraine’s war effort, a process that continues to shape the battlefield dynamics two years into Russia’s invasion.
2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
In late February 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, escalating a conflict that had simmered since the annexation of Crimea in 2014. The initial assault targeted major Ukrainian cities like Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Mariupol, with the Russian forces aiming for a quick victory.
However, the Ukrainian military and civilian resistance proved unexpectedly resilient, leading to prolonged urban and trench warfare. International sanctions were swiftly imposed on Russia, and NATO countries increased military support to Ukraine, significantly altering the dynamics of the conflict.
Throughout 2022 and into 2023, the war saw fluctuating front lines, with Ukraine managing to reclaim significant territories during counteroffensives in Kharkiv and Kherson. The human cost was staggering, with tens of thousands of casualties on both sides and millions displaced.
The destruction of infrastructure led to humanitarian crises, with shortages of food, water, and electricity in various regions. Global attention remained high, with numerous diplomatic efforts attempting to broker peace, yet none yielding substantial results.
By mid-2024, the conflict had transformed into a war of attrition, with both sides suffering from military fatigue and economic strain. The international community’s response varied, with some advocating for continued support to Ukraine to maintain its sovereignty, while others pushed for negotiations to end the bloodshed.
The war’s impact was felt worldwide through energy market disruptions, increased food prices, and shifts in global alliances. Despite the ongoing violence, cultural resistance in Ukraine grew stronger, with art, music, and literature becoming powerful symbols of defiance and national identity.
As of early 2025, the situation remains tense with no clear end in sight. Both Ukrainian and Russian forces have adapted to a new normal of sporadic but intense clashes, with significant areas of eastern and southern Ukraine still under dispute.
Humanitarian aid continues to pour in, though the effectiveness of these efforts is hampered by the ongoing hostilities. The war has become a defining issue of the early 21st century, highlighting the complexities of modern warfare, international law, and the resilience of the human spirit amidst adversity.
***
Follow us everywhere and at any time. BulgarianMilitary.com has responsive design and you can open the page from any computer, mobile devices or web browsers. For more up-to-date news, follow our Google News, YouTube, Reddit, LinkedIn, and Twitter pages. Our standards: Manifesto & ethical principles.