Ukrainian Mirage 2000-5F shoots down Russian Bandеrol loitering munition with cannon for the first time
As Rubryka previously reported, the first Mirage 2000 fighter jets supplied by France arrived in Ukraine in February 2025. They were transferred from the stocks of France's Air and Space Force.
The Mirage 2000-5F's main cannon armament consists of two 30 mm DEFA 554 automatic aircraft cannons, which are integrated directly into the aircraft's fuselage.
Each cannon has an ammunition capacity of 125 rounds, with a maximum rate of fire of up to 1,800 rounds per minute. The cannons use 30×113 mm high-explosive fragmentation and armor-piercing incendiary ammunition.
The muzzle velocity of these rounds is approximately 815 m/s.
What is known about the S8000 'Banderol'
The Russian company Kronstadt developed the S8000 "Banderol", a small cruise missile. Its maximum speed is 620–650 km/h, while its cruising speed is 520–560 km/h.
The missile is powered by a Chinese-made Swiwin turbojet engine. It weighs 8.5 kg and, at a maximum rotational speed of 65,000 rpm, produces up to 81.6 kgf of thrust. With these specifications, the stated range of the S8000 'Banderol' is up to 500 km.
The missile is equipped with an OFBCh-150 high-explosive fragmentation warhead with a total weight of 114.3 kg. Of this, 49.5 kg is the explosive charge.
Russian forces are increasingly using jet-powered drones and 'Banderol' loitering munitions, whose speed characteristics are approaching those of cruise missiles, making them more challenging for Ukrainian air defense to intercept.
It should be recalled that on November 17, 2025, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi and French PresidentEmmanuel Macron signed a declaration of intent on cooperation in the procurement of defense equipment by Ukraine. The declaration envisages possible future contracts for Ukraine to purchase around 100 French-made Rafale fighter jets produced by Dassault Aviation.
An important point is that the aircraft Ukraine is to receive were to undergo modernization and would have the capability to use Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG cruise missiles. France is also providing Ukraine with these long-range missiles for strikes against targets in Russia.
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4 of October 2026
