| Dassault-Breguet Mirage 2000N | Image
caption | | Description | | Role | Ground attack/strike aircraft with a nuclear role | | Crew | 2 | | First Flight | 1986 | | Entered Service | 1989 | | Manufacturer | Dassault Aviation | | Dimensions | | Length | 14.55 m | 47 ft 9 in | | Wingspan | 9.13 m | 29 ft 11 1/2 in | | Height | 5.15 m | 16 ft 10 3/4 in | | Wing area | 41 m² | 441.3 ft² | | Weights | | Empty | 7600 kg | 16,755 lb | | Loaded | 10,680 kg | 23,545 lb | | Maximum takeoff | 17,000 kg | 37,478 lb | | Powerplant | | Engines | One SNECMA M53-P2 turbofan | | Thrust | 95.12 kN | 21,384 lb | | Performance | | Maximum speed | 2338 km/h | 1,453 mph | | Combat range | 1,480 km | 920 miles | | Ferry range | 3,335 km | 2,072 miles | | Service ceiling | 18,000 m | 59,055 ft | | Rate of climb | 17,060 m/min | 55,971 ft/min | | Wing loading | 414.6 kg/m² | 85 lb/ft² | | Thrust/Weight | 0.57:1 | | Avionics | | Avionics | Includes twin INS's and Antilope 5 terrain following radar | | Armament | | Guns | none | | Missiles | One ASMP medium-range nuclear missile; two MATRA Magic AAM's for self defence | The Dassault-Breguet Mirage 2000N is a variant of the Mirage 2000 designed for nuclear strike. It forms the core of the French nuclear deterrent. The Dassault-Breguet Mirage 2000D is its conventional attack counterpart.
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 the 3rd March 1986 and 74 aircraft 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 fight, and the aircraft was 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 decrease's 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 AN.52 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. This aircraft is exactly the same as the Mirage 2000N, but introduces support for conventional attack missiles such as the Apache and Scalp missiles. 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.
Like the Mirage 2000N, the Mirage 2000D has had different capabilities throughout its production. The Mirage 2000D-R1 does not have the full weapons capability of the Mirage 2000D-R2, which features the Apache and Scalp missiles, the ATLIS II laser designation system, and the Samir self-protection fit
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