Ukraine Deploys French Mirage 2000 Jets for First Time to Intercept Russian Missiles
Ukraine’s Air Force announced that it has used French-supplied Mirage 2000 fighter jets for the first time to intercept a large-scale Russian missile attack.
On March 7, Ukrainian air defense reported that Russia launched an overnight strike using 194 suicide drones and decoys, 35 Kh-101/Kh-55 cruise missiles, 8 Kalibr missiles, 3 Iskander-M ballistic missiles, 4 modified S-300 air defense missiles repurposed for ground attacks, and 8 Kh-59/69 missiles.
The attack primarily targeted Ukraine’s gas infrastructure. In response, Ukraine deployed F-16 and Mirage 2000 jets to counter the strike. This marked the first combat use of the French-built Mirage 2000, which Kyiv received about a month ago.
"Ukrainian air defense shot down 25 Kh-101/Kh-55 missiles, 8 Kalibr missiles, 1 Kh-59/69 missile, and 100 Geran suicide drones. Another 86 decoy drones went off course and caused no damage. Ten enemy missiles failed to hit their targets," Ukraine’s Air Force stated. However, they did not specify how many targets were downed by the fighter jets.
The report also did not mention how many missiles and drones made it through, suggesting some strikes were successful.
Later that day, Russia’s Defense Ministry confirmed it had launched a coordinated long-range precision strike using land-based systems, warships, aircraft, and drones against Ukrainian infrastructure.
The Russian military claimed that all designated targets—Ukraine’s electricity and gas facilities supporting its defense industry—were hit. The pro-Russian Telegram channel Iznanka, which has links to Russia’s Defense Ministry, reported that the strikes targeted gas extraction, refining, and energy distribution facilities in Poltava, Chernihiv, Ternopil, and Odessa provinces. Several gas transit stations, compression stations, and processing plants were reportedly destroyed.
DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private energy company, confirmed that gas extraction operations in Poltava province had been halted due to significant damage from the overnight Russian assault.
France announced on February 6 that it was delivering its first batch of Mirage 2000 fighter jets to Ukraine but did not specify the exact number. French media reported that the initial batch consisted of three aircraft.
The Mirage 2000 is a single-engine fighter jet developed by France’s Dassault Aviation, first introduced into the French Air Force in the 1980s. It measures 14 meters in length, has a wingspan of 9 meters, a service ceiling of 15 kilometers, and a maximum speed of 2,700 km/h. It is equipped with nine hardpoints for weapons and external fuel tanks, supporting a total payload of 6.3 tons.
The Mirage 2000-5 variant features upgraded radar, avionics, and compatibility with more advanced guided weapons than earlier models. Dassault delivered 37 Mirage 2000-5 jets to the French Air Force, all of which are scheduled for retirement before 2029 to make way for the newer Rafale fighter jets.
(Sources: AFP, AP, RIA Novosti)
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