The Dassault Mirage 2000 is an all-weather, supersonic fighter aircraft which is in service with the French Air Force since 1984. It also carries out interception and ground-attack missions. In the ground-attack role, this French, lethal, combat aircraft employs a wide array of weaponry to strike enemy targets on land. For this type of mission, the Mirage 2000 is usually armed with guided cruise missiles, smart bombs, and rockets. Equipped with delta wing, the configuration is very similar to that of the Mirage III and IV, even though it is propelled by a different power plant and has more advanced avionics. This French warplane has taken part in a number of armed conflicts around the world, such as the USA-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001-2002, and the NATO bombing of Libya in 2011.
The prototype of the Mirage 2000 first took to the air on March 10, 1978. It was flown by test pilot Jean Coureau, flying at the supersonic speed of Mach 1.2 without afterburner. On the following flight tests, it flew at Mach 2+ with afterburner, showing satisfactory performance, with great maneuverability and handling. The different parts of the prototype had been hand-built at different factory sites and later assembled at St Cloud before its maiden flight. After more than six years of flight tests and corrections of technical faults and errors, this French combat aircraft entered service with the French Air Force on July 27, 1984, as the Mirage 2000C variant, with 'C' standing for 'chasseur', which is the French word for 'hunter' (or fighter). It was fitted with the Thomson-CSF multi-function Doppler radar. The 2000C model would later be upgraded to the 2000-5 and the 2000-5F variant. The Mirage 2000D and 2000N are two-seat tactical strike aircraft capable of carrying nuclear weapons.
 |
| Above, front view of the Mirage 2000C parked on a French airbase. |
Technical Description
The Dassault Mirage 2000, model C, is a single-seat, single-engine monoplane. It has an all-metal, monocoque fuselage and low delta wing, with clipped tips. The wing has leading edge slats, which were designed to increase the lift when flying at subsonic speeds. The tail assembly lacks the tail horizontal stabilizer; the aircraft uses the wing trailing edge flaps as elevators. The Mirage 2000C variant has a single-seat cockpit, with the control stick being at the center and the throttle to the left. This French combat aircraft is powered by one SNECMA M53-P2 turbofan engine with afterburner. This power plant can deliver 14,500 pounds of thrust. The two engine air intakes are located on each side of fuselage.
Specifications (Mirage 2000C)
Type: multi-role fighter
Length: 14.36 m (47 feet, 1 inch)
Wing Span: 9.13 m (29 feet, 11 inches)
Wing Area: 41 m2 (440 square feet)
Height: 5.2 m (17 feet, 1 inch)
Power Plant: one 14,500-lb, SNECMA M53 P-2 turbofan engine, with afterburner.
Maximum Speed: Mach 2.2 (2,336 km/h or 1,452 mph)
Range: 1,550 km (960 miles)
Rate of Climb: 285 m/s (56,100 feet/min.)
Service Ceiling: 17,060 m (55,970 feet)
Crew: one
Armament: two 30-mm DEFA-553 cannons; six MBDA MICA air-to-air missiles; two Matra R.550 Magic air-to-air missiles; two AM39 Exocet air-to-surface missiles; smart gliding bombs.
 |
| The Mirage 2000-5F version in flight. |
 |
| The Mirage 2000C in flight in the late 1980s. |
 |
| Mirage 2000D, a two-seater variant conceived for nuclear strike. |
 |
| The prototype of the Mirage 2000 during flight tests. |