French Dassault Mirage 2000N Armee De L'air Air Fast Jet Fighter Serial No 317 4-CR
The Dassault Mirage 2000N is a variant of the Mirage 2000 designed for nuclear strike. It forms the core of the French land-based tactical nuclear deterrent. The Mirage 2000D is its conventional attack counterpart. The first aircraft, converted from the Mirage 2000N prototype, flew on the 19th February 1991, and the French Air Force ordered a total of 86 aircraft. The Mirage 2000N was designed to French requirements for an aircraft to replace the older Mirage IVP. Dassault received a contract to build two prototypes. The aircraft first flew on February 3, 1986. Seventy four were built up to 1993. The Mirage 2000N is based on the Mirage 2000B two-seat trainer, but features considerable changes. The airframe was strengthened for low-level flight and fitted with an Antilope 5 radar, which is used for terrain following, navigation and ground mapping, and which can follow terrain at 691 mph (1,112 km/h). Other avionic features are twin INS's and moving map displays for both the pilot and weapon systems officer. Weapons-wise, the Mirage 2000N can carry one ASMP medium-range nuclear missile, and can also carry two MATRA Magic AAM's for self defence. Other protection features include the Sabre jamming system and the Spirale chaff system. Because the extra seat decreases range, a pair of drop tanks are carried. The first batch of 30 aircraft for the French Air Force had a sole nuclear capability, and these were designated Mirage 2000N-K1. These did not have the Spirale chaff system, and carried a pair of free-fall nuclear bombs before the ASMP was ready. The later batch of 44 aircraft were designated Mirage 2000N-K2. These had both a nuclear and conventional capability, and a full defensive fit. The K1 aircraft now have a limited conventional attack capability. Dassault has also developed the Mirage 2000D, which is a development of the Mirage 2000N designed for long-range precision strikes with conventional weapons.
Size: 5621px × 3730px
Location: RAF Lossiemouth Moray Morayshire Scotland UK
Photo credit: © David Gowans / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: -defense., ., 2, 100, 2000n, 2000n-k1, 2000n-k2., , 31, 68, aams, aeroplane, air--ground, aircraft, anti-runway, asmp, aviation, bap, belouga, bomb, bombs, built, capability, carried, carrier, carry, cluster, clusters, combat, computer, control, controls, conventional, designated, dumb, electrically, engined, fast, fighter, fly--wire, interceptor, iron, jet, limousin, mach, machines, magic, matra, meters, millimeter, mirage, missile, multi-role, munitions, nuclear, penetration, pods., rocket, seat, signalled, single, stand, stores, supersonic, types, unguided, weapon
