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Hi everyone, here is a new suggestion for a new Mirage 2000, so I present to you the Mirage 2000N K3 303
The Mirage 2000N was born during the Cold War, a period marked by tensions between the Eastern and Western blocs, when nuclear deterrence played a central role in the military strategy of the major powers. As early as the 1970s, the French Air Force was looking for a successor to the Mirage IV, its first nuclear strategic bomber, whose capabilities were becoming insufficient in the face of advances in air defense systems. The objective was to have a more modern, agile aircraft capable of penetrating enemy airspace at very low altitudes and high speeds while carrying an ASMP (Air-to-Ground Medium-Port) nuclear missile.
The Mirage 2000N program is a direct descendant of the Mirage 2000, a fighter designed by Dassault Aviation in the late 1970s to replace the Mirage III. France then chose to adapt this platform into a two-seater version dedicated to nuclear strikes. Development of the Mirage 2000N officially began in 1979, under the leadership of the French General Staff and the DGA (Directorate General for Armaments). The first prototype made its maiden flight in 1983, marking a significant step forward in the modernization of the French air deterrent force.
Unlike the conventional versions of the Mirage 2000 of the time (only the 2000C was in service at the time), the Mirage 2000N featured a sophisticated navigation and attack system based on an Antilope V radar, optimized for very low-altitude flight and automatic terrain following. Its main armament was the ASMP missile, capable of striking a target several hundred kilometers away with a nuclear warhead. The aircraft entered service in 1987, joining the French strategic forces and replacing the Mirage IV as part of the national deterrence doctrine.
History
When the French Air Force identified the need for a version specialized in penetrating enemy defenses for deep nuclear strikes, it selected Dassault’s Mirage 2000 for this mission. An initial specification sheet, published in 1978, initially called for a single-seat version, along with a two-seater trainer. However, the configuration quickly evolved, and in 1979, the aircraft officially became a two-seater equipped with the Antilope 5 radar for low-altitude terrain monitoring and optimized to carry the ASMP nuclear missile. Its development took place in parallel with that of the ASMP missile, launched in March 1978, and the Mirage 2000N itself, approved in July 1978. Several modifications were made over the years: in 1983, the EMAA (Air Force General Staff) decided to integrate a new engine, more powerful than the model initially planned, and in 1984, new 2,000-litre drop tanks were adopted to improve its range. The first ASMP launch from a Mirage 2000N took place in March 1985.
Series production began in 1984, and the first production Mirage 2000N flew on March 3, 1986, before being delivered in February 1987. The first squadron became operational on July 1, 1988. Initially, 85 aircraft were planned, but only 75 were ultimately delivered between 1987 and 1992. An additional batch was ordered in 1988, but it was ultimately converted into the Mirage 2000D.
The French squadrons that received this aircraft are the EC2/4 La Fayette, the EC3/4 Limousin, l’EC 2/3 Champagne and the EC1/4 Dauphine
The Mirage 2000N K3
The Mirage 2000N K3 is an improvement of the N K2 put into service in 2009, this variant aims to incorporate some final improvements before the aircraft is withdrawn from active service. The improvements made are mainly aimed at integrating the new long-range nuclear-armed missile, the ASMP-A, for this a revision of the firing system is carried out and the aircraft finally obtains a GPS link.
The aircraft retains the same ground attack capabilities as the Mirage 2000N K2.
The Mirage 2000 303
The Mirage 2000 number 303 is a Mirage 2000N put into service in the late 80s at the standard K1 in the 05/330 Côte d’Argent squadron (fighter and experimentation squadron) and then went to the 2/4 Lafayette, it is the third Mirage 2000N put into service. The aircraft was over time upgraded to the K2 and then K3 standard before being selected as a test aircraft by the DGA (Direction générale de l’Armement) to test the brand new AASM (It should be noted that the aircraft was upgraded to the K3 standard by the DGA to allow it to fire the AASM, indeed the GPS designation being necessary and the K2 standard being devoid of it.)
Characteristic
Dimensions:
The aircraft’s dimensions are identical to those of other two-seater Mirage 2000 variants, such as the Mirage 2000B and Mirage 2000D:
- Wingspan: 9.13 m
- Length: 14.36 m
- Height: 5.20 m
- Wing Area: 41.0 m²
Propulsion:
The Mirage 2000N is powered by the SNECMA M53-P2 engine, the same turbofan found on the Mirage 2000B, C, and D. Originally, the aircraft was intended to be equipped with the SNECMA M53-3, but this plan was later revised.
Radar:
The Mirage 2000N features the Antilope 5 radar, which was later integrated into the Mirage 2000D. This radar is optimized for low-altitude penetration, ensuring maximum effectiveness in delivering nuclear strikes.
Defensive Systems:
The Mirage 2000N K3 is equipped with a suite of defensive systems, including:
- The Serval RWR (Radar Warning Receiver) for detecting enemy radar threats.
- The DDM (Détecteur de Départ Missile), a missile approach warning system also present on other Mirage 2000 variants.
- The Alkan LL5063 decoy launcher, capable of deploying chaff and flares to counter radar-guided and infrared-seeking missiles.
Weapons
The Mirage 2000N K3 is equipped with different weapons allowing it to accomplish its different missions.
- Up to 2 Matra Magic 1 and 2, the Magic missile is used as a self-defense missile on the aircraft, it can be guided from radar illumination on a target provided by the Antilope 5 radar.
- Up to 8 250kg bombs: The aircraft can fire the 250kg bombs used by the French military, these include the SAMP Type 25, the SAMP Type 25 200, the Mk82 and the Mk-82 Snakeye
- Up to 4 SNEB Type 23 unguided rocket baskets
- BLG-66, BAP-100 and BAT-120 bombs (anti runway or personnel bombs)
- Up to 4 AASM Hammer (IR or GPS)
It should be noted that this aircraft does not have an internal cannon and no gun pod was used on it.
The aircraft also uses different external fuel tanks of 1300, 1700 or 2000 liters.
The particularity of this aircraft is therefore the ability to fire the AASM (the only guided armament available), the aircraft has only ever been observed with the double ventral pod, however the front points of the fuselage are wired on the Mirage 2000N K2 and K3 to fire guided armament, the aircraft can therefore dock 2 additional AASMs on these points, bringing the quantity of these bombs to 4. It should be noted, however, that the 303 never received a sighting pod, so it fired its AASM using the GPS link (received at the K3 standard).
The first images of the aircraft in the image tab below shows it with 6 AASMs including 2 in rear point, this payload is not realistic and has only been used in aerodynamic testing, rear points having never been allowed for guided firing.
Sources
[1] TEXTE 2 Tomes Bonnet v8.pdf
[2] événement;16.pdf
[3] Retrait de service du dernier Mirage 2000N en service en France | Ministère des Armées
[4] piege225.pdf
[5] Mirage 2000N (Hervé Beaumont) : 51UjukCNo-L.jpg (400×480)
[6] colloque_30a_puissance_cesa.pdf
[7] Dassault Aviation Mirage 2000N — avionslegendaires.net
[8] Mirage 2000N - Escadrilles
[9] 2000N : infos générales
[10] Aircraft Photo of 303 | Dassault Mirage 2000N | France - Air Force | AirHistory.net #301176
[11] Second tir de qualification du AASM en version à guidage terminal infrarouge
