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Mirage
2000D Multi-role fighter and ground attack aircraft |
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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 (Armée de l'Air). The Mirage 2000 evolved into
a multirole aircraft with several variants developed, with sales to
a number of nations. The Dassault Mirage 2000D is a variant of the Mirage
2000 designed to be used for ground attack. Delays in the Dassault Rafale
fourth-generation fighter program led to a development program for an
updated Mirage 2000N dedicated to conventional attack, originally designated
Mirage 2000N cousin. It was to complement SEPECAT Jaguar daylight strike
fighters by providing a night/bad weather attack capability. Formal
development began in 1988. The designation was changed to Mirage 2000D
in 1990, with the "D" standing for "Diversifie/Multirole".
Initial flight of the Mirage 2000D prototype, a modified Mirage 2000N
prototype, was on 19 February 1991. That led to first flight of a production
aircraft 31 March 1993 and introduction to service in April 1995. 86
Mirage 2000Ds were built in all to last delivery in 2001. The Mirage
2000D remains in service, with various improvements such as the MICA
IR. A general upgrade designated Mirage 2000D-R2 machine was delivered
from 2001. A second upgrade program was begun in 2009, with better support
for the strike role and improvement of air-to-air capabilities. This
provided a multirole capability that compensated for the eventual retirement
of the Mirage 2000Cs. |
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| Technical Data | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Design | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The latest generation of Mirage 2000-5 is available in single and twin-seater
versions. With the exception of the internal guns (ventral pod for the
twin-seater), the twin-seater Mirage 2000-5 Mk2 keeps all the operational
capabilities of the single-seater, including the Mach 2.2 capability.
Using the concept of the delta wing interceptor seen on the Dassault
Mirage III, Dassault built a new fighter jet design. This configuration
is not ideal with regard to maneuverability, low-altitude flight, and
distance required for take-off and landing, but has advantages in high-speed
flight characteristics, simplicity of construction, low radar signature
and internal volume. The
Mirage 2000 features a low-set thin delta wing with cambered section,
58 degrees leading-edge sweep and moderately blended root; area-ruled;
two small canard wings, fixed, placed just behind the air intakes. The
flight controls on the wings are: four elevons (+15/-30°), four
slats. A runway arresting hook or a fairing for a brake parachute can
be fitted under the tail. The landing roll is reduced by robust carbon
brakes. The backward-retracting, steerable nose gear features dual wheels,
while the main gear features single wheels and retracts inward into
the wings. A fixed, removable refueling probe can be attached in front
of the cockpit, offset slightly to the right of center. |
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| Avionics | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The
Mirage 2000 is equipped with a RDY 2 radar manufactured by the Thales
company. This is the latest-generation look-up / look-down long-range
radar. Its ability to switch automatically in the detection, tracking
and fire-control modes makes it unrivalled for air-to-air missions.
The RDY 2 radar satisfies the essential requirements of modern aerial
combat, including firing against multiple targets. The radar employs
three pulse repetition frequencies (PRF), with automatic monitoring
frequencies for target detection purposes. The system is effective at
all altitudes and ensures early detection, coupled with continuous target
tracking of a very high standard. The RDY 2 radar is designed to use
capabilities in the areas of reconnaissance based on high-resolution
images. A laser gyro, GPS-coupled, inertial system featuring a high
level of reliability, accuracy and a short alignment time (on ground
alert, as well as in flight). •A fully integrated internal countermeasures
system capable of detecting, identifying and localising the most dangerous
air-to-air and ground-to-air threats with the highest accuracy. To assist
the pilot in the management of his mission, and to ease reconfigurations,
the "Glass Cockpit" technology has been adapted for the Mirage
2000-5 Mk2. The instrument panel includes 5 displays, among which 3
are color displays. The central screen is mainly dedicated to the tactical
situation display. In between this screen and the Head-Up display, another
screen -collimated to infinity - displays the main sensor image (radar
or laser designation pod). This unique display layout allows the pilot
to shift instantly from head-up flying to internal and external monitoring.
The Mirage 2000D is fitted with a A modernized ULISS 52P navigation
system with Global Positioning System (GPS) capability, An improved
Antilope 50 terrain-following system. An updated "ICMS 2"
countermeasures system, with SERVAL RWR, Chameleon jammer, and Spirale
dispensers. |
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| Propulsion | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The
Mirage 2000 D is powered by a single SNECMA M53-P2 afterburning turbofan.
This aircraft can fly at a maximum speed of 2,338 km/h with a maximum
range of 1,400 km. |
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| Armament | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The
Mirage 2000D can carry armament on nine hardpoints, with four under
wing, four under the fuselage and one centerline. All major dumb munitions, such as iron bombs, Belouga cluster bombs, Durandal runway breaker bombs, BAP 100 and BAP 120 clusters, Matra 68 millimeter rocket pods, and cannon pods. Laser-guided weapons such as the AS-30L ASM or French and US LGBs, with the munitions directed by an ATLIS II or improved optical-infrared PDLCT and high-resolution PDLCTS targeting pods, attached to a pylon under the right air intake. The navigator/WSO in the back seat handled laser targeting while the pilot in the front flew the aircraft. Carriage of the next-generation Damocles pod is now under consideration. The Armat antiradar missile, though this is rarely carried. |
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| Specifications | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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