Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>Mirage 2000>HA1604
Dassault Mirage 2000EGM 233, 331 Mira "Theseus", Volkel AB, 2002
General Background
France’s participation in Desert Storm was called “Operation Daguet (French for Brocket Deer). The French were responsible for the left flank as Coalition Forces worked their way into Kuwait to drive the Iraqi invaders out of the country. Along with Mirage 2000Cs France supplied transport aircraft refueling planes ground attack aircraft as well as Army and Navy personnel and other materiel. Even after Desert Storm ended France continued to participate in activities in the region.
The Aircraft
The Greece government signed a contract with Dassault on July 20, 1985 for importing the Mirage 2000 as a substitute for the Mirage F.1.
In March 1988, the first four aircrafts were delivered to the Hellenic Air Force and they were assigned to the 144a Pterix Mahis (Combat Wing) at Tanagra Air Base for the defense of Athens. The Combat Wing was composed of the 331 and 332 Mira Pandous Kairou (All-Weather Fighter Squadrons) and both squadrons were equipped with two trainers and 12 single-seaters.
In March 1988, the first four aircrafts were delivered to the Hellenic Air Force and they were assigned to the 144a Pterix Mahis (Combat Wing) at Tanagra Air Base for the defense of Athens. The Combat Wing was composed of the 331 and 332 Mira Pandous Kairou (All-Weather Fighter Squadrons) and both squadrons were equipped with two trainers and 12 single-seaters.
Specifications :
Type: |
Mirage 2000C |
| Function: | fighter |
| First flight: | 1978 |
| Crew: | 1 |
| Engines: | (1) SNECMA M53-P2 afterburning turbofan |
| Thrust: | 14,462 lb (64.3 kN) |
| 21,385 lb (95.1 kN) with afterburner | |
Length: |
47.10 ft (14.36 m) |
| Height: | 17.02 ft (5.20 m) |
| Wing Area: | 441 ft2 (41.98 m2) |
| Wingspan: | 29.96 ft (9.13 m) |
| Empty Weight: | 16,534 lb (7,500 kg) Max.Weight: 17000 kg |
| Normal take-off weight: | 20,944 lb (9,500 kg) [fighter mission] |
| Max take-off weight: | 37,480 lb (17,000 kg) |
| Max payload: | 13,890 lb (6,300 kg) |
| Speed: | at altitude: 1,455 mph (2,340 km/h) at 36,090 ft (11,000 m), Mach 2.2 [sustained] |
| 1,550 mph (2,495 km/h), Mach 2.35 [dash] | |
| at sea level: 915 mph (1,470 km/h), Mach 1.2 | |
| Initial rate of climb: | 55,971 ft (17,076 m) / min |
| Service ceiling: | 54,000ft (16,460m) |
| Range: | typical: 380 nm (700 km) |
| ferry: 2,000 nm (3,704 km) | |
| Armament: | (2) 30-mm DEFA 554 cannons (125 rds ea) |
| External hard-points: | 9 |
| Air-to-Air Missile: | Matra Super 530, Matra 550 Magic, MICA |
| Air-to-Surface Missile: | AS.37, AS.39 Exocet, Wasp, ASMP cruise missile, AS30/ARMAT ARM |
| Bombs: | BAP 100, Durandal, BGL 1000 laser-guided, 250/400 kg GP, cluster bombs |
| Other: | ECM pods, rocket pods |
| Unit cost: | 23 million USD |
| Variants: | 14 |
| Known operators: | France (380) |
| Abu Dhabi (36) | |
| Egypt (20) | |
| Greece (40) | |
| India (49) | |
| Jordan | |
| Peru (12) | |
| Qatar (12) | |
| Taiwan (60) | |
| United Arab Emirates (30) |