- Yes, but in the far future
- Yes
- No
Suggestion No.60
G’day lads. I want to suggest an aircraft at the BR of 12.0 - 12.7 for China, which would be a Mirage 2000B-01 that they trialled during the time where China and western countries had good relations :)
Description:
Spoiler
The Mirage 2000B-01 is a two-seat variant of the Mirage 2000, a French multirole, single-engine, delta wing, fourth-generation jet fighter developed by Dassault Aviation. The Mirage 2000B-01 was designed primarily for training purposes, allowing pilots to familiarize themselves with the aircraft’s advanced systems and capabilities. It retains the same performance characteristics as the single-seat Mirage 2000C, including its powerful SNECMA M53-P2 turbofan engine, which provides excellent speed and agility. The aircraft is equipped with advanced avionics, radar systems, and a comprehensive weapons suite. The Mirage 2000B should however have it’s 30mm cannons removed. China was invited to the Paris Air Show 1979, where it took an interest in the Mirage 2000 fighter jet developed by France’s Dassault Aviation, thus made some test flights. While impressed, in the end they didn’t decide to purchase some.
History:
Spoiler
From the late 1970s to the mid-1980s, China sought to modernize its outdated air force, which relied heavily on older models like the J-6 and J-7. Recognizing the advancements made by neighboring countries in acquiring fourth-generation fighters, China started exploring options to procure advanced Western aircraft.
In 1979, China was invited to the Paris Air Show, where it took an interest in the Mirage 2000 fighter jet developed by France’s Dassault Aviation. The Mirage 2000, an advanced fourth-generation fighter, attracted significant attention from the Chinese Air Force. Following several inspections and detailed examinations, Chinese test pilots conducted flight tests in June 1982, experiencing the aircraft’s capabilities firsthand. The Mirage 2000 was praised for its excellent maneuverability, avionics, and radar systems, but its high-altitude performance was deemed slightly inferior to the J-8.
After evaluating the Mirage 2000, China expressed interest in purchasing 40 of these fighter jets. The Chinese proposal included acquiring the aircraft and the production technology to enhance China’s domestic aviation capabilities. However, France was firm in its stance against transferring production technology and set a high unit price of $20 million per aircraft. Despite prolonged negotiations and the strategic importance of the deal, France’s unwillingness to compromise on technology transfer and pricing ultimately led to the failure of the deal.
Another significant factor contributing to the unsuccessful acquisition was China’s limited foreign exchange reserves and military budget during the early stages of economic reform. With a GDP of $240 billion in 1988 and fluctuating foreign exchange reserves, the high cost of purchasing and maintaining advanced fighter jets like the Mirage 2000 was beyond China’s financial capabilities.
The failure to secure the Mirage 2000, along with other Western aircraft such as the F-14 Tomcat and F-16/79, showed the limitations of relying on foreign military technology. This realization forced China to focus on developing its indigenous aviation industry. In 1986, China launched the development of the J-10 fighter jet and later acquired the Su-27 production line from Russia.
Armaments:
Spoiler
30mm cannon pods
Matra Magic 1/2 AAM
Matra S530F/D AAM
BGL-400/1000 LGB
AS-30L AGM
Exocet ASM
ATLIS targeting pod
SNEB Type 23 unguided rockets
250kg dumb bombs
CME ECM
Drop tanks
Specifications:
Spoiler
The Mirage 2000 has a length of 14.55m, a height of 5.20m, a wingspan of 9.13m and a wing area of 41 square meters. It’s empty weight is around 7600kg, meanwhile it’s MTOW is around 16500kg. It is powered by a SNECMA M53-P2 turbofan engine, giving out 64.3kN dry and 95.1kN wet aka with afterburner.
Sources:
Spoiler
Dassault Mirage 2000 - Wikipedia
https://inf.news/en/military/872888fdb37c9be652fb4f917a9d8bfd.html
https://inf.news/en/military/6fdb19ed37efb45d3454f688b4def4a1.html
http://dangjian.people.com.cn/BIG5/n/2013/0822/c367806-22653741-3.html
https://bemil.chosun.com/nbrd/bbs/view.html?b_bbs_id=10040&num=66144
https://bemil.chosun.com/nbrd/bbs/view.html?b_bbs_id=10044&branch=&pn=1&num=226576&pan
幻影-2000要上前线 歼-10CE出口 有思路了? -6parknews.com
https://mil.sina.cn/sd/2018-01-11/detail-ifyqqieu5780362.d.html
1981.06.012 Le Bourget Dassault Mirage 2000B 01 | alain Michot ,(bonjour à tous) | Flickr
Dassault Mirage 2000B, 01 / 01, Avions Marcel Dassault-Breguet Aviation - AMD-BA : ABPic
Mirage 2000B 01 Prototype being refueled in mid-air | Flickr
Thanks a lot for reading! If you have any extra information, as this vehicle is quite obscure, then feel free to share them in the replies! As always, have a good day :)