Mirage 2000, RIAT 2015 ©Nigel Key
ROLE
Multirole Fighter.
FIRST FLIGHT
10 March 1978.
The Mirage 2000 is a multirole, single engine jet fighter manufactured by Dassault Aviation to replace the Mirage III.
The Mirage 2000 is a Delta wing aircraft powered by a SNECMA M53 turbofan complete with afterburner.
The Mirage can be supplied as a single-seat or a two-seat aircraft for training and is controlled by a centre stick fly-by-wire system.
The Mirage is fitted with a SEM MB Mk10 ‘zero-zero’ ejection seat which can be deployed at zero speed and zero altitude.
The landing gear is retractable tricycle type with twin nose wheel. An arrestor hook or brake parachute can be fitted under the tail and can be used in conjunction with the aircrafts carbon fibre brakes.
A refuelling probe can be fitted to the right side of the cockpit for in-flight refuelling.
The Mirage 2000 is fitted with twin DEFA 554 autocannon 30mm revolver-type with 125 rounds each and can be selected to either 1,200 or 1,800 rounds per minute.
PRODUCTION
The Mirage 2000 was produced from 1978 to 2007, with 601 built.
ENGINE
SNECMA M53-P2, producing 14,500 lbf.
21,400 lbf with after burner.
ARMAMENT
2 x 30mm DEFA 554 revolver cannon
13,900 lb (6,300 kg) external fuel and ordinance
In July 1984 the Mirage 2000 entered service with the French Air Force.
The Mirage 2000 was used during the Gulf War as air defence and was also used during the Bosnian and Kosovo War for UN and NATO operations.
French Mirage 2000D’s served with the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during 2001 and 2002.
The Mirage 2000 is being replaced in the French Air Force by the Dassault Rafale.
| Crew - 1 |
| Length - 47ft 1in (14.36m) |
| Wingspan - 29ft 0in (9.13m) |
| Height - 17ft 0in (5.2m) |
| Empty Weight - 16,350lb (7,500kg) |
| Max. Weight - 37,500lb (17,000kg) |
| Max. Speed - 1,500 mph (2,530 km/h) |
| Range - 963 miles (1,550 km)* |
| *with drop tanks |
