Relating to army plane, the Mirage 2000 is likely one of the most agile fighter jets flying right now, and a mainstay of air forces all over the world. Manufactured by Dassault Aviation, a French aerospace firm, the Mirage 2000 is compact however very efficient. The corporate oversaw each stage of the Mirage’s preliminary creation, with a number of French services dealing with completely different elements wanted for manufacturing.
Dassault’s Saint Cloud location was concerned from the beginning, with manufacturing of the primary Mirage 2000 prototype in 1977. The corporate’s engineering workplaces, analysis labs, and workshops, have been all situated right here. The fuselage for the Mirage 2000 was constructed within the firm’s Argenteuil location, which additionally dealt with the identical work for different Mirage variants that adopted. Closing meeting for the fighter occurred at Dassault’s Mérignac facility, which not solely homes development but additionally conducts flight testing as nicely.
The Mirage 2000’s first flight got here a bit over two months after the fighter was first commissioned. Constructed to exchange Dassault’s Mirage III, the brand new light-weight Mirage 2000’s velocity and agility made it a flexible power to be reckoned with. In a position to exceed Mach 2 and efficiently dealing with low speeds as nicely, the Mirage 2000 might preserve excessive angles of assault even when carrying weapons. Dassault ultimately exported the fighter to a number of international locations, together with Brazil, Greece, and Peru, amongst others.
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From the Mirage 2000 to the Rafale
French Air Power Dassault Rafale C fighter jet performing on the Paris Air Present – VanderWolf Pictures/Shutterstock
Dassault’s Mirage 2000 fighter jet encompasses a single-seat or two-seat configuration, and stretches round 47 ft lengthy, with a 29.9-foot wing span. It carries two 30-millimeter weapons within the single-seat variant, and in typical fight conditions, the Mirage 2000 makes use of six Missile d’Interception et de Fight Aérien (MICA) missiles. These are air-to-air missiles that may fly at Mach 4 speeds and hit both brief or long-range targets. Whereas the Mirage 2000 has served admirably throughout its run, Dassault has indicated that the tip is close to for its well-known fighter.
However because the Mirage 2000 is sunsetting, Dassault’s Rafale fighter has progressively grow to be a preferred successor, and top-of-the-line fighter jets on the earth. The Rafale is being utilized in lively service by the French Air and House Power, the French Navy, and different international locations have added it to their fleets as nicely. Taiwan might ultimately swap to the Rafale too, because the nation is within the midst of updating its getting old army forces with extra trendy options.
Just like the Mirage 2000, the Rafale can hit targets from lengthy vary and may function effectively throughout low-level flights. It is able to superior aerial, plus floor assaults, in addition to reconnaissance, and nuclear weapon deterrence, all in the identical mission. The Rafale’s superior digital weapons system additionally units it aside, making it a fighter that France plans to make the most of nicely into the long run.
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