Vue normale

Hier — 23 juillet 2025Flux principal
  • ✇Euromaidan Press
  • Ukraine suffers first Mirage-2000 loss. Pilot ejects and survives
    The Ukrainian Air Force’s Mirage-2000 crash occurred during an evening flight over Ukraine on 22 July, when a fighter jet suffered a sudden technical failure, forcing the pilot to eject. The incident marks the first confirmed loss of this aircraft type in Ukrainian service. The pilot survived, and no civilians were harmed on the ground, according to official statements. Although the Air Force has not confirmed whether this specific Mirage-2000 was involved in air defense at the time, the
     

Ukraine suffers first Mirage-2000 loss. Pilot ejects and survives

23 juillet 2025 à 06:03

ukraine suffers first mirage-2000 loss pilot ejects survives mirage 2000-5f fighter jet flight french ministry armed forces винищувач mirаge ukrainian air force's crash occurred during evening over 22 when suffered

The Ukrainian Air Force’s Mirage-2000 crash occurred during an evening flight over Ukraine on 22 July, when a fighter jet suffered a sudden technical failure, forcing the pilot to eject. The incident marks the first confirmed loss of this aircraft type in Ukrainian service. The pilot survived, and no civilians were harmed on the ground, according to official statements.

Although the Air Force has not confirmed whether this specific Mirage-2000 was involved in air defense at the time, the crash comes amid Russia’s intensified drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian cities. In response, Ukraine continues to deploy its available resources, including combat aircraft, to counter incoming aerial threats where necessary.

Mirage fails in flight, pilot guides it away from civilians

The Ukrainian Air Force reported that the single-engine Mirage-2000-5 fighter jet experienced an in-flight malfunction during a scheduled mission. Colonel Yurii Ihnat, spokesperson for the Air Force Command, told Ukrainska Pravda that the pilot immediately alerted flight command, followed emergency protocols, and managed to steer the aircraft away from populated areas before ejecting. A rescue team quickly located the pilot, whose condition is reported as stable.

The crash occurred in open terrain. No casualties or damage were recorded on the ground. The Air Force noted that the pilot used all remaining onboard systems in an attempt to retain control before initiating the ejection sequence. Military officials stressed that such incidents, while rare, are not unprecedented in modern air forces.

A special commission has been appointed to investigate the Mirage-2000 crash and identify what triggered the failure.

Ukraine’s Mirage-2000 program under strain

As Militarnyi reports, this is the first Mirage-2000 Ukraine has lost since introducing the aircraft into combat roles. The jet had been fully modernized before its transfer from France. This includes upgrades for engaging ground targets.

The Mirage-2000 entered Ukrainian service earlier in 2025. In March, the Air Force reported that one of these fighters successfully intercepted a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile during a combined missile-and-drone attack. According to French Aid to Ukraine, the training program for Ukrainian Mirage pilots and technicians lasted six months and concluded at the end of December 2024.

Under French military assistance, Ukraine is expected to receive between 12 and 20 Mirage-2000 aircraft. Militarnyi notes that the final number may increase with possible additional deliveries from the French Air and Space Force or even Greece. The jets in Ukraine’s current fleet are capable of deploying high-precision weapons such as SCALP EG / Storm Shadow cruise missiles and AASM smart bombs.

Over the past year, Ukraine lost four US-made F-16 jets and three pilots during combat operations. The first loss occurred on 26 August 2024, when pilot Oleksii Mes (“Moonfish”) was killed as his jet went down during a Russian missile and drone attack. On 12 April 2025, pilot Pavlo Ivanov died after his F-16 was likely shot down over Sumy Oblast. Another F-16 was destroyed on 16 May 2025 due to an onboard emergency, though the pilot ejected safely. Most recently, on 29 June 2025, Lieutenant Colonel Maksym Ustymenko was killed while defending against a large-scale Russian air assault.

 

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À partir d’avant-hierFlux principal

US plans to develop new cruise missile modeled on Ukrainian war needs and capable to strike targets over 450 km away

19 juillet 2025 à 12:59

The US Air Force has announced a search for contractors to develop a new air-launched cruise missile under the working title LACM (Lugged Affordable Cruise Missile). Aviation Week reports, the project is largely based on the concept of the ERAM missile, which is being developed specifically for Ukrainian fighter jets

According to the requirements, the missile will carry a 227 kg (500 lb) warhead with a multi-mode fuse capable of high penetration. It must be able to strike targets over 450 km away with an accuracy margin of no more than ten meters, even without satellite navigation, flying at around 0.6 Mach.

What sets the LACM apart is its focus on low-altitude flight, no higher than 300 meters, with the ability to strike at angles exceeding 70 degrees. A critical requirement is the ability to mass-produce the missile within two years of the contract’s start, at a cost not exceeding $300,000 per unit.

The missile will be compatible with standard external pylons on fighter jets or internal weapons bays, according to Militarnyi.

At least three potential companies are being considered in the early phase of the LACM program: Anduril (with its Barracuda-500M missile), Zone 5 Technologies (Rusty Dagger), and CoAspire, which is already working on the Rapidly Adaptable Affordable Cruise Missile. However, other manufacturers, including L3Harris, may also join the competition.

You could close this page. Or you could join our community and help us produce more materials like this. We keep our reporting open and accessible to everyone because we believe in the power of free information. This is why our small, cost-effective team depends on the support of readers like you to bring deliver timely news, quality analysis, and on-the-ground reports about Russia's war against Ukraine and Ukraine's struggle to build a democratic society. Become a patron or see other ways to support
  • ✇The Kyiv Independent
  • Russian Su-25 jet reportedly crashes in Donetsk Oblast
    Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated.A Russian SU-25 fighter jet reportedly crashed over Donetsk Oblast on June 13, Russian social media channels reported. Videos posted on social media of the purported crash by bloggers with close ties to the Russian Air Force appear to show the plane crashing into a field after closely being followed by another fighter jet. The circumstances of the crash remain unclear as rumours swirl of Russian 'friendly fire' as a potential cause o
     

Russian Su-25 jet reportedly crashes in Donetsk Oblast

13 juin 2025 à 16:28
Russian Su-25 jet reportedly crashes in Donetsk Oblast

Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated.

A Russian SU-25 fighter jet reportedly crashed over Donetsk Oblast on June 13, Russian social media channels reported.

Videos posted on social media of the purported crash by bloggers with close ties to the Russian Air Force appear to show the plane crashing into a field after closely being followed by another fighter jet. The circumstances of the crash remain unclear as rumours swirl of Russian 'friendly fire' as a potential cause of the crash.

The Kyiv Independent cannot independently verify the crash or the details surrounding it. Neither the Ukrainian nor Russian military have commented on the reported crash.

The Su-25, a Soviet-designed close-air support aircraft developed by Sukhoi in the late 1970s, is built for battlefield survivability. It features heavy armor and can withstand enemy fire.

The aircraft has been widely used in various conflicts, including in Afghanistan, Chechnya, and, more recently, in Ukraine, where both Russian and Ukrainian forces operate the platform.

Ukraine has downed multiple Russian Su-25s throughout the war. On Feb. 8, Ukraine's military reported shooting down a Russian Su-25 near the town of Toretsk in Donetsk Oblast.

In another instance, Russia's Defense Ministry said on on March 24 that Russian Su-25 attack aircraft crashed during a routine training flight in Primorye Krai in Russia's Far East.

The incident comes less than two week following Ukraine's 'Operation Spiderweb' in which Ukrainian drones smuggled deep inside Russia and hidden inside trucks struck as many as 41 Russian heavy bombers at four airfields across the country.

Ukraine war latest: Ukrainian MiG-29 strikes Russian drone hub, ammo depot in Zaporizhzhia direction, releases video
Key developments on June 13: * Ukrainian MiG-29 strikes Russian drone hub, ammo depot in Zaporizhzhia direction, releases video * Ukrainian military denies NYT claims about Russian presence in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast * Russia preparing strategic reserves for conflicts beyond Ukraine, Ukraine warns * Ukraine repatriates bodies of 1,200 citizens, soldiers under Istanbul deal
Russian Su-25 jet reportedly crashes in Donetsk OblastThe Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk
Russian Su-25 jet reportedly crashes in Donetsk Oblast
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