In the context of the ongoing armed conflict between Ukraine and Russia, the Ukrainian Air Force has reported the first combat loss of one of its Mirage 2000-5 fighters, a model recently added to its growing fleet of Western-origin combat aircraft. The incident occurred on Tuesday, July 22, during a combat mission. This marks the first known incident involving this type of aircraft since the transfer of Western fighter jets to Ukraine began, as part of France’s support to strengthen Ukraine’s air defense capabilities.
According to the official statement issued by the Ukrainian Air Force, the aircraft experienced a technical failure during the course of a combat mission. “On the night of July 22, while carrying out a flight mission aboard a Mirage 2000, a technical failure occurred in the aircraft’s systems, which was reported by the pilot to the flight commander,” the authorities detailed. The pilot, acting in accordance with emergency procedures, successfully ejected and was rescued by search and rescue (SAR) teams. He is currently in stable condition. No ground damage or civilian casualties were reported. Local authorities have ruled out enemy fire as the cause of the aircraft’s loss.
The downed fighter was part of the first batch of Mirage 2000-5s transferred by France to the Ukrainian Air Force at the beginning of 2025. The initial delivery was confirmed on February 6 by then French Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu, as part of a bilateral agreement between Paris and Kyiv aimed at reinforcing Ukraine’s defensive capabilities. The aircraft were received with crews previously trained on French soil, after several months of instruction specifically focused on the handling and operation of this fourth-generation combat platform.
Before their transfer, the Mirage 2000-5s underwent a series of technical modifications to adapt them to the operational environment of the Ukrainian theater. These upgrades included enhancements to electronic warfare systems, the integration of new self-protection countermeasures, and expanded air-to-ground strike capabilities. The improvements leveraged the performance of the RDY Doppler mechanically scanned radar, capable of detecting, tracking, and designating ground targets with greater accuracy than earlier versions such as the RDM or RDI.
The possibility of expanding Ukraine’s Mirage 2000-5 fleet was discussed last month during a bilateral meeting between Presidents Volodymyr Zelensky and Emmanuel Macron, held ahead of the most recent NATO summit. In that meeting, both parties discussed the potential transfer of additional units, as well as the feasibility of launching joint co-production projects for interceptor drones. Through his official channels, Zelensky emphasized the need to strengthen air defense and expressed his hope that concrete decisions would be adopted during the multilateral forum.
Since their induction, the Mirage 2000-5s had already entered operational service, participating in joint missions with other Western aircraft. One of the most notable deployments was the interception and downing of a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile, conducted in coordination with F-16 fighters. These missions have positioned the French-made jets as an active component of Ukraine’s air defense system, contributing to the protection of strategic infrastructure and the mitigation of long-range threats.
Images used for illustrative purposes only.
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