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Dassault Mirage 2000

The Dassault Mirage 2000 is a French multirole, single-engine, fourth-generation jet fighter.

It was designed in the late 1970s as a lightweight fighter to replace the Mirage III for the French Air Force.

The Mirage 2000 evolved into a multirole aircraft with several variants developed, with sales to a number of nations.

It was later developed into the Mirage 2000N and 2000D strike variants, the improved Mirage 2000-5, and several export variants.

Over 600 aircraft were built and it has been in service with 9 nations.

Variants

Mirage 2000C

Upgrades include the addition of the Non-Cooperative Target Recognition (NCTR) mode to the RDI Radar to allow identification of airborne targets not responding on identification friend or foe (IFF), and the ability to carry air-to-ground stores such as rocket pods, iron bombs and cluster bombs.

Some variants, especially those equipped with the RDM radar have the capability to use the Exocet anti-ship missile.

Mirage 2000B

The Mirage 2000B is a two-seat operational conversion trainer variant which first flew on 11 October 1980.

The French Air Force acquired 30 Mirage 2000Bs, and all three AdA fighter wings each obtained several of them for conversion training.

Mirage 2000N

The Mirage 2000N is the nuclear strike variant which was intended to carry the Air-Sol Moyenne Portée nuclear stand-off missile.

The variant was retired on 21 June 2018.

Mirage 2000D

The Mirage 2000D is a dedicated conventional attack variant developed from the Mirage 2000N.

Mirage 2000D RMV

Mirage 2000D Rénovation Mi-Vie (Mid-Life Upgrade).

It updates the avionics, integrates a CC422 gun pod, the GBU-48, and the GBU-50, along with allowing use of MICA missiles in the place of Magic missiles.

Mirage 2000-5F

First major upgrade over the Mirage 2000C.

Replaces most cockpit displays with several large multi-function displays, and upgrading the stores-to-aircraft interface for the use of targeting pods and a wide variety of guided air-to-ground weapons, as well as a radar upgrade to provide guidance information for MICA missiles.

Mirage 2000-5 Mark 2

Dassault further improved the Mirage 2000-5, creating the Mirage 2000-5 Mark 2.

Mirage 2000E

The Mirage 2000E was a blanket designation for a series of export variants of the Mirage 2000.

These aircraft were fitted the M53-P2 engine and an enhanced “RDM+” radar, and all can carry the day-only ATLIS II laser targeting pod.

Mirage 2000M

The Mirage 2000M is the version purchased by Egypt.

Two-seat Mirage 2000BM trainers were also ordered.

Mirage 2000H, 2000TH

Designation of two-seat trainers and single-seat fighters for India.

Indian Mirage 2000s have been integrated to carry the Russian R-73AE Archer missile as of 2007.

Mirage 2000I, 2000TI

It is an Indian specific version single/twin-seat fighter for the Indian Air Force similar to Mirage 2000-5 Mk2 equipped with Indian French and Israeli avionics and weapon packages.

Its contract was signed in 2011 and first upgraded aircraft was delivered in 2015.

Dassault aviation will upgrade initial few planes Mirage 2000H, 2000TH to 2000I, 2000TI later by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.

Mirage 2000P

Peru placed an order for 10 single-seat Mirage 2000Ps and 2 Mirage 2000DP trainers.

Mirage 2000-5EI

Of the 60 Mirage 2000s Taiwan ordered in 1992, the Republic of China Air Force (ROCAF) would receive 48 single-seat Mirage 2000-5EI interceptors and 12 Mirage 2000-5DI trainers.

This version of Mirage 2000-5 had the mid-air refuel ability as well as its ground attack ability deleted.

Mirage 2000-5EDA

In 1994, Qatar ordered nine single seat Mirage 2000-5EDAs and three Mirage 2000-5DDA trainers.

Mirage 2000EAD/RAD

In 1983, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) purchased 22 single-seat Mirage 2000EADs, 8 unique single-seat Mirage 2000RAD reconnaissance variants, and 6 Mirage 2000DAD trainers, for a total order of 36 aircraft.

The Mirage 2000RAD reconnaissance variant does not have any built-in cameras or sensors, and the aircraft can still be operated in air combat or strike roles.

The reconnaissance systems are implemented in pods produced by Thales and Dassault.

The UAE is the only nation operating such a specialized reconnaissance variant of the Mirage 2000 at this time.

Mirage 2000EG

In March 1985, Greece ordered 30 single-seat Mirage 2000EGs and 10 Mirage 2000BG two-seat trainers, equipped with RDM radars and M53P2 engines, mainly for interception/air defense roles, although the ability to use air-to-ground armaments was retained.

After the Talos modernization project, during which variant aircraft received updated sensors and avionics, as well as new anti-ship and air-to-air weapons, and were redesignated Mirage 2000EGM.

Mirage 2000-9

Mirage 2000-9 is the export variant of Mirage 2000-5 Mk.2.

The UAE was the launch customer, ordering 32 new-build aircraft, comprising 20 Mirage 2000-9 single-seat and 12 Mirage 2000-9D two-seaters.

A further 30 of Abu Dhabi’s older Mirage 2000s will also be upgraded to Mirage 2000-9 standard.

Specifications

Crew

1

Length

14.36 m (47 ft 1 in)

Wingspan

9.13 m (29 ft 11 in)

Height

5.2 m (17 ft 1 in)

Wing area

41 m2 (440 sq ft)

Empty weight

7,500 kg (16,535 lb)

Gross weight

13,800 kg (30,424 lb)

Max take-off weight

17,000 kg (37,479 lb)

Powerplant

1 × SNECMA M53-P2 afterburning turbofan engine,

64.3 kN (14,500 lbf) thrust dry, 95.1 kN (21,400 lbf) with afterburner

Performance

Maximum speed

2,336 km/h (1,452 mph, 1,261 kn) / M2.2 at high altitude

1,110 km/h (690 mph; 600 kn) at sea level

Range

1,550 km (960 mi, 840 nmi)

Ferry range

3,335 km (2,072 mi, 1,801 nmi) with auxiliary fuel

Service ceiling

17,060 m (55,970 ft)

Rate of climb

285 m/s (56,100 ft/min)

Wing loading

337 kg/m2 (69 lb/sq ft)

Thrust/weight

0.7

Armament

Guns: 2× 30 mm (1.2 in) DEFA 554 revolver cannon, 125 rounds per gun

Hardpoints

9 total (4× under-wing, 5× under-fuselage) with a capacity of 6,300 kg (13,900 lb) external fuel and ordnance,

Rockets

 Matra 68 mm unguided rocket pods, 18 rockets per pod

Missiles

Air-to-air missiles

6× MBDA MICA IR/RF (Mirage 2000-5, Mirage 2000-9, Mirage 2000 I)

2× Matra R550 Magic-II and 2× Matra Super 530D (Mirage 2000 C)

Astra (Indian Air Force)

Air-to-surface missiles

2× AM.39 Exocet (Mirage 2000 EG, Mirage 2000-5 Mk2)

2× SCALP EG (Hellenic Air Force)

Bombs

Unguided

Mk.82

Guided

PGM 500 and PGM 2000 modular guided bombs (Mirage 2000-9)

2× AS-30L laser-guided missile (Mirage 2000 D)

2× GBU-12 laser-guided bombs (Mirage 2000 D, Mirage 2000 C & Mirage 2000 N with external laser designation)

1× GBU-16 laser-guided bomb (Mirage 2000 D, Mirage 2000 C & Mirage 2000 N with external laser designation)

1× GBU-24 laser-guided bomb (Mirage 2000 D, Mirage 2000 C & Mirage 2000 N with external laser designation)

2× GBU-49 laser-guided bombs (Mirage 2000 D)

1× ASMP-A tactical nuclear cruise missile (Mirage 2000 N)

1x Spice 2000 (Mirage 2000 N)

Avionics

Thomson-CSF RDY (Radar Doppler Multi-target) radar (Mirage 2000-5).

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