A Ukrainian Mirage 2000-5F was proven with six Kh-101 ALCM kill markings in a uncommon close-up have a look at the French-supplied jet delivered earlier this 12 months.
A Ukrainian Air Drive (UKrAF) French-made Mirage 2000-5F has been noticed with kill marks of what resemble Russian Kh-101 (X-101) long-range ALCM (Air-Launched Cruise Missile) in a Nov. 17, 2025, promotional video in regards to the fighter. The nation is presently believed to function six of them, transferred by France earlier this 12 months.
There are six missile shapes seen under the cockpit’s cover rail on the port aspect of the jet. The video by the UKrAF additionally exhibits the plane carrying one R550 Magic Matra short-range air-to-air missile (SRAAM) on every of the wings, together with two exterior gas tanks, in addition to the engagement of a goal in low-light hours.
✈️ Mirage 2000 of the Ukrainian Air Drive flies on a fight mission, awaiting excellent news from France.Ukraine🤝France🇺🇦 Collectively to Victory! pic.twitter.com/edlm8FtIuf
— Ukrainian Air Drive (@KpsZSU) November 17, 2025
It isn’t clear if this goal was a Kh-101 – variations of which have appeared during the last two years with twin/penetrating warheads and dishing out flares/decoys to deceive air protection missiles – or a Shahed-type Russian Geran-2 kamikaze drone. Equally, it’s not clear when the engagement befell.
Using Mirage 2000s to interact cruise missiles can’t be denied, because the service beforehand printed a video of the interception of such weapons shortly after the French fighter was delivered. The service had additionally publicized in September its F-16s participating Russian aerial targets with AIM-9M Sidewinder SRAAMs, with footage from contained in the F-16s themselves and HUD (Heads-Up Show) recordings exhibiting the AIM-9 hitting the goal.
Footage printed immediately by the Ukrainian Air Drive exhibiting a French-supplied Mirage 2000-5F with six kill marks for Russian cruise missiles, doubtless Kh-101s downed throughout missions over Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/i1vggw6OkM
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) November 17, 2025
Previously, the Ukrainian army has formally recognized in infographics the Kh-101 as one the targets being shot down, and each the designs in these illustrations and the kill marks level to the Kh-101, the main Russian ALCM.
Russia has modified the Kh-101 cruise missile to hold a second 350 kg warhead.So as to add the additional mass to the primary 450kg warhead the gas tank has been decreased, halving its authentic 5500km vary however nonetheless permitting entry to all of Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/B1ayLQfagQ
— Roy🇨🇦 (@GrandpaRoy2) Could 9, 2024
Ukraine’s signing of a Letter of Intent with France for potential provide of as much as 100 Rafales, SAMP/T surface-to-air missile batteries, extra SCALP missiles, AASM Hammer guided bombs and Gripens from Sweden alerts how the nation is gearing as much as rearm and rebuild its army because the battle progresses.
Neither Russia or Ukraine achieved air superiority, however, with excessive numbers of contemporary programs, the air struggle would possibly doubtless shift in Kyiv’s favor over the subsequent few years – assuming the battle lasts that lengthy. That consequence could be determined by a collection of diplomatic invariables, because the worldwide group pushes to finish the struggle.
On the evening of September 20, Russia launched an enormous mixed strike in opposition to Ukraine, utilizing 619 aerial targets:•579 Shahed assault drones and decoys;•8 Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles;•32 Kh-101 cruise missiles.
⚡️ By 09:00, Ukrainian air protection shot down/suppressed… pic.twitter.com/NSHUOpwPJZ
— Particular Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) September 20, 2025
Russian standoff missiles
It’s unlikely that F-16s and Mirages could be used to fireplace at slower and easier targets like UAVs, given the teachings learnt over two years with Russian standoff strikes, meant to expend Ukraine’s Western air defenses, and the expertise with the Houthis and Iran. The drones are presently being engaged by helicopters with door-mounted weapons and basic machine gun air defenses on the bottom.
The propeller-driven drones themselves would additionally don’t have any helpful warmth hint for the infrared seekers of the AIM-9 and the R550.
Russia periodically conducts coordinated mass ALCM, Iskander, Geran-2 and sea-launched 3M54-1 Kalibr assaults throughout the whole entrance. These embrace targets each deep into Ukrainian cities and cities, typically reaching so far as the nation’s west. Russia’s MoD regularly describes these targets as “civilian-military” areas supporting Moscow’s acknowledged goals of “demilitarization” of Ukraine.
Russia’s Tu-160s, Tu-22M3 and Tu-95s are in a position to carry the Kh-101, the Russian equal of the U.S. AGM-158 JASSM, or the British/French Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG. These should not fired singularly and have largely been synchronized with Geran, Iskander and Kalibrs from the Black Sea, overwhelming Ukrainian command and management planning throughout the whole 600 km entrance.
Shootdowns vs stockpiles
Rising ranges of shoot downs, because the UKrAF stated when it launched the F-16 movies in September, don’t make a distinction to a discerning observer of army ways. Practically all weapons used to shoot them down come from U.S. and European nations’ personal stockpiles.
The UKrAF had stated on Sep. 20 that the “large mixed strike” by Russia concerned “619 aerial targets,” together with 579 Shahed assault drones and decoys; 8 Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles; and 32 Kh-101 cruise missiles. Of those, the Ukrainians downed 583, together with 552 Shahed drones/decoys; 2 Iskander-M (or presumably a North Korean KN-23; and 29 Kh-101s.
Delays in replenishment because of diplomatic hurdles are exploited by Russia to make strategic good points on the battlefield – albeit at typically nice, painful tactical price. This represents a elementary conflict in Western and Jap army doctrines, placing fast-paced, high-intensity army operations in opposition to longer, sustained wars.
In a single day, Russia attacked Ukraine with each missiles and drones.
Shot down:
0/2 Kh-47M2 Kinzhal aeroballistic12/12 Kh-101/555 cruise missile31/31 Shahed kamikaze drones. pic.twitter.com/j8yzuasugd
— NOELREPORTS 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 (@NOELreports) Could 26, 2024
Concerning the Mirage 2000s participating Russian missiles, these missiles may very well be among the many 14 out of the 19 President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Nov. 14 had been shot down by the Ukrainian army whereas they had been focusing on “residential areas of Kyiv and power infrastructure.” Given two Western studies this 12 months of the alarming price with which anti-air missiles’ shares are being depleted, some other such studies sooner or later, particularly following a collection of Russian standoff strikes, will point out the course of those dynamics.
