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Hello everyone and welcome to this new suggestion!
Today, I’m presenting a French Air Force aircraft: the Mirage 2000B serial number 504.
The Mirage 2000B is the two-seat version of the famous Mirage 2000C. Designed primarily for pilot training, it is nevertheless perfectly capable of carrying out combat missions (the aircraft is, however, devoid of internal cannons to make room for the second pilot). The first examples produced—serial numbers 501 to 514—were all built to the S3 standard.
The S3 standard of the Mirage 2000 (all variants) was the first to be able to equip and fire radar-guided missiles. However, due to delays in the delivery of the RDI radars, the S3-standard Mirage 2000s had to make do with the RDM radar, which only allowed them to use the Super 530F and not the Super 530D found on later versions. Entering service in the 1980s with EC 1/2 Cigognes, Mirage 2000B S3 serial number 504 was subsequently acquired by the CEV (Flight Test Center) to be converted into a test aircraft. It was the second Mirage 2000B to be serviced by the CEV, after serial number 501. At the center, it received the nickname BOB, an acronym for Biplace Optronic Test Bench, and contributed to numerous test campaigns. Retired from service in 2009, it has since been based at Cazaux Air Base.
The “BOB” was used to evaluate several optical detection systems, making it a unique aircraft with significantly different capabilities than the standard Mirage 2000B S3. Among its modifications, we can cite, for example:
- the experimental integration of the Mirage 2000-5F’s HUD,
- the installation of a Corail navigation FLIR on the forward port pylon,
- as well as the integration of a new oxygen generator for the pilot.
Despite its long service life, the Mirage 2000B 504 was never upgraded to the higher standards (S4 and S5), thus retaining its original radar and combat capabilities.
Characteristics
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Length : 14.85 m
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Width : 9.13 m
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Height : 5.20 m
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Mass :
- Empty : 7.6 tons
- Max : 16.5 tons
The aircraft is powered by a Snecma M53-5 jet engine, producing 9700 kgp of thrust and allowing it to reach a maximum speed of Mach 2.2 and an altitude of 50,000 feet. Its estimated range is 1800 nautical miles.
Equipment
The internal equipment of the Mirage 2000B S3 is the same as that found on the later variants of the aircraft, so the aircraft has a Serval RWR and an integrated Sabre jammer. The aircraft is also equipped with the Alkan LL5063 countermeasure launcher.
The aircraft can also carry a Rubis FLIR pod. This pod, mounted on the aircraft’s forward left hardpoint, transmits an infrared image of the aircraft’s forward environment directly to the HUD, thus providing the pilot with a clearer view, particularly during night flights. Unfortunately, this pod will never be fully integrated into the French Air Force’s equipment (despite tests on aircraft like this one and on Super Étendards), but it will be adopted by the Royal Thai Air Force, which will equip its F-16A Block 15s with it.
The radar used is the RDM radar (same as the Mirage 4000 radar). This multimode radar allows you to search for targets over 120° in front of the aircraft (horizontally and vertically) and can detect 90% of targets with a reflective surface of 5m² at 50nm.
The radar allows different scanning modes and patterns to detect aerial targets up to 60nm and cover angles of up to 120° by 30°. This radar also allows the detection of naval targets, in fact, the manufacturer announces a ship detection capability at 60nm using the 120° detection pattern.
Weapons
This variant of Mirage 2000B, although old, can carry the various armaments that have made the reputation of the aircraft
- Matra Magic 1 or 2
- Matra Super 530F
- Type 25 bombs
- Type 25 200 bombs
- SNEB type 23
- BLG-66 Belouga
- BAP-120
- BAT-100
- Durandal
The aircraft can also carry the various external fuel tanks found on the other Mirage 2000 vertions.
- 2 x RPL-541/542 2000L fuel tank
- 2 x RPL-501/502 1700L fuel tank
- 1 x RPL-522 1300L fuel tank
In practice, this aircraft would be a very interesting addition to the French tech tree, bringing a Mirage 2000B to the S3 standard with a capacity to carry a FLIR system, thus making it unique among French aircraft and differentiating it from a potential Mirage 2000C S3.
