Dassault Mirage 2000
From Canadian Power Wiki
The Dassault Mirage 2000 is a French multirole, single-engine fourth-generation jet fighter manufactured by Dassault Aviation. It was designed as a lightweight fighter based on the Mirage III in the late 1970s for the French Air Force. The Mirage 2000 evolved into a multirole aircraft with several variants developed, with sales to a number of nations. The variants include the Mirage 2000N and 2000D strike variants, the improved Mirage 2000-5 and several export variants. Over 600 aircraft were built and it is in service in nine countries as of 2009. The Mirage 2000 also had an improved variant that never entered production, the Mirage 4000.
Variants[edit | edit source]
- 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 (mainly used in export models) 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 October 11th, 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 June 21st, 2018.
- Mirage 2000D: The Mirage 2000D is a dedicated conventional attack variant developed from the Mirage 2000N.
- Mirage 2000-5F: First major upgrade over the Mirage 2000C.
- Mirage 2000-5 Mk2: Dassault further improved the Mirage 2000-5, creating the Mirage 2000-5 Mk2 which is currently the most advanced variant of the Mirage 2000.
- Mirage 2000E: "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/I/TH: 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. The Mirage 2000TH is a twin-seat trainer version. In 2019, these variants are undergoing upgrades to prolong service life.
- Mirage 2000P: Peru placed an order for ten single-seat Mirage 2000Ps and two Mirage 2000DP trainers.
- Mirage 2000-5EI: Of the sixty Mirage 2000s Taiwan ordered in 1992, the Republic of China Air Force (ROCAF) would receive forty-eight single-seat Mirage 2000-5EI interceptors and twelve 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, with initial deliveries starting in late 1997.
- Mirage 2000EAD/RAD: In 1983, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) purchased twenty-two single-seat Mirage 2000EADs, eight unique single-seat Mirage 2000RAD reconnaissance variants, and six Mirage 2000DAD trainers, for a total order of thirty-six 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 thirty single-seat Mirage 2000EGs and ten Mirage 2000BG two-seat trainers, equipped with RDM radars and M53P2 engines, mainly for interception/air defence roles, although the ability to use air-to ground armaments was retained. After the Talos modernisation project, during which the aircraft received updated sensors and avionics, as well as new anti-ship and air-to-air weapons, the aircraft were redesignated Mirage 2000EGM.
- Mirage 2000BR: A variant of the Mirage 2000-9 for Brazil that did not materialise.
- Mirage 2000-9: Mirage 2000-9 is the export variant of Mirage 2000-5 Mk.2. The UAE was the launch customer, ordering thirty-two new-build aircraft, comprising twenty Mirage 2000-9 single-seaters and twelve Mirage 2000-9D two-seaters. A further thirty of Abu Dhabi's older Mirage 2000s will also be upgraded to Mirage 2000-9 standard.
Users[edit | edit source]
- Brazil
- Brazilian Air Force
- Republic of China
- Republic of China Air Force
- Egypt
- Egyptian Air Force
- France
- French Air Force
- Greece
- Hellenic Air Force
- India
- Indian Air Force
- Peru
- Peruvian Air Force
- Qatar
- Qatar Emiri Air Force
- United Arab Emirates
- United Arab Emirates Air Force
