Dassault Mirage 2000

The Aviation Marcel Dassault Mirage 2000C is an single engine, delta wing all weather night and day interceptor. Developed around 1973 as a successor of the Mirage III and Mirage V. The first of four single seat prototypes flew on March 10, 1978, and the fifth machine a private (Dassault) build  two-seater took the air in October 1980 as the precursor of the Mirage 2000B two-seat operational trainer.

The Mirage 2000N was derived from and looks much like the Mirage 2000B, but the Nuclear Strike variant includes stronger wings for low altitude operations, as well as low-level precision navigation-attack system, build around the Thomson-CSF Antilope 5 radar, with automated terrain following capability, at very high speed and very low altitude. The Mirage 2000N carries a single ASMP (nuclear weapon with 150 or 300 kilotons warhead) on a centerline pylon.

The old prototype of the Mirage 2000B was extensively modified to fly as the first next-generation Mirage 2000-5 in October 1990. The first single Mirage 2000-5 flew in may 1991.

The Mirage 2000-5 is a new version of the multi-role aircraft with a new avionics system:

New pilot/system interface.
Five displays ‘glass cockpit.
Head-Up/Level/Down and two Lateral.
RDY Multi-waveform pulse 12 Doppler radar.
Multi-target capability.
Multi-function radar.
New internal countermeasures system.
Multi-target firing and a new air-to-air MICA missile.

Developing nation: France.
Manufacturer/designer: Marcel Dassault Aviation.
Production line: Bordeaux-Mariagne.
Number built: 601
Type aircraft: multirole, single-engine fourth-generation jet fighter.
First flight: March 10, 1978
First delivery: November 1982 to Armée de L’Air

General characteristics Mirage 2000C

• Crew: 1
• Length: 14.36 m (47 ft 1 in)
• Wingspan: 9.13 m (29 ft)
• Height: 5.20 m (17 ft)
• Wing area: 41 m² (441.3 ft²)
• Empty weight: 24,541 kg  (54,100 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 17,000 kg (37,500 lb)
• Powerplant: 1× SNECMA M53-P2 afterburning turbofan
• Dry thrust: 64.3 kN (14,500 lbf)
• Thrust with afterburner: 95.1 kN (21,400 lbf)

Performance

• Maximum speed: Mach 2.2 (2,333+ km/h, 1,450+ mph) at altitude/ 1,110 km/hr (690 mph) at low altitude
• Range: 1,550 km (837 nmi, 963 mi) with drop tanks
• Ferry range: 3,335 km (1,800 nmi, 2,073 mi) with auxiliary fuel
• Service ceiling: 17,060 m (59,000 ft)
• Rate of climb: 285 m/s (56,000 ft/min)
• Wing loading: 337 kg/m² (69 lb/ft²)
• Thrust/weight: 0.91

Armament

• Guns: 2× 30 mm (1.18 in) DEFA 554 revolver cannon, 125 rounds per gun
• Hardpoints: 9 total (4× under-wing, 5× under-fuselage) with a capacity of 6,300 kg (13,900 lb) external fuel and ordnance
• Rockets: Matra 68 mm unguided rocket pods, 18 rockets per pod
• Missiles:
  • Air-to-air missiles:
    • 6× MBDA MICA IR/RF
    • 2× Matra R550 Magic-II and 2× Matra Super 530D
  • Air-to-surface missiles:
    • 2× AM.39 Exocet
    • 2× AS-30L laser guided missile
    • 1× ASMP tactical nuclear cruise missile
• Bombs: 9× Mk.82

Avionics

• Thomson-CSF RDY (Radar Doppler Multi-target) radar

Dassault Falcon 900EX

nation:	France
Manufacturer/designer:	Dassault Aviation.
Production line:	Bordeaux – Merignac
Type aircraft:	Long Range Business Jet.
First flight:	21 September 1984
First delivery:	December 1986
	Falcon 900EX
Cockpit crew:	two pilots.
Passengers:	8 – 19.
Cabin length:	10,11 m.
Cabin diameter:	1,88 m.
Cabin height:	2,19 m.
Wing span:	19,33 m.
Fuselage length:	20,22 m.
Height:	7,54  m.
Engines:	- 3 Honeywell TFE731-60 each rated 22.23 kN.
Cruise speed:	890 km/h.
Service ceiling:	Flight Level 510.
Range:	8.339 km.

Dassault Super Étendard

The Super-Étendard is an attack aircraft by Dassault Aviation; it was developed to operate from the French navy’s aircraft carriers in the 1970’s. 

The Étendard is/was operational with the French and Argentinean Navy and some flew for the Iraqi air force in the conflict with Iran in the 80’s. 

The French Étendard are capable to drop the Nuclear Air Sol Moyenne Portee missile, the export versions do not have this option. 

The last Étendard in the French Navy will be phased out by 2010; they will be replaced by the new Dassault Rafale M. 

Étendard in action: 

The Argentinean Étendards were successful against the British Navy in the Falkland War, sinking 2 ships with Exocet missiles and badly damaging a third. 

In the Iraq-Iran war 5 Étendards with Exocets of the Iraqi air force operated successfully against Iranian tankers in the Gulf. 

The last version of the Dassault Étendard (SEM) joined NATO in operations above Kosovo, and with Operation Enduring Freedom.

 

Developing Nation:	France
Task:	Carrier strike Fighter
First Flight:	- Etendard IV: July 24th 1956- Etendard IVM: October 28th 1974 (Super Etendard prototype)
First Delivery:	1977
Crew:	1
Wing Span:	9.60 m
Wing Area:	28.4 m²
Length:	14.31 m
Height:	3.86 m
Engine (s):	SNECMA Atar 8K-50 turbojet (49.0kN) 1x
Weight:	6910 kg
Max.Take off weight:	12000 kg
Max. Speed:	1180 km/h
Max. Range:	Combat radius with one Exocet and two drop-tanks: 910 km
Service ceiling:	13500 m
Weapons:	- Two internal 30 mm DEFA cannons- up to 4500 kg of weaponry on two under fuselage, and four underwing hardpoints. Rocket pods, bombs, laser guided bombs, Magic AAM’s, one Exocet or one ASMP stand-off nuclear missile

Countries that use(d) the Super Étendard:

Iraq:             5

France:       71

Argentina:  11

Dassault Rafale

The Rafale A technology demonstrator made its maiden flight from his test-base Istres on July 4, 1986, and is the lead into the three operational versions, Rafale B biplace, Rafale C (chasse), for the French Air Force and the Rafale M (maritime) for the French Navy.

The Rafale is an extended multi-role combat aircraft featuring small radar-signature, and capable of performing an extremely wide range of missions night or day in all weather conditions. Using a single basic platform for all variants, Rafale is designed to be compatible with all current and planned armaments.

In addition to high combat performance, the Rafale C would have a low landing speed and STOL abilities, and the Rafale M would be capable of operating from the nuclear-powered Charles de Gaulle aircraft-carrier.

 

Specifications Rafale C
Developing Nation:	France
Task:	multi-role
First Flight:	July 4th 1986
Crew:	1
Wing Span:	10,86 m
Length:	15,27 m
Height:	5,34 m
Engine (s):	SNECAM M88-2 (2x)
Weight:	- Rafale C: 9600 kg - Rafale M: 9400 kg - Rafale B: 9900 kg
Max.Take off weight:	- Rafale C: 21500 – 24500 kg - Rafale M: 19500 kg (catapult start)
Max. Speed:	2125 km/h
Max. Range:	- air to air: 1853 km - air to ground: 1100 km

Weapons for the Rafale:

 

- All versions of Rafale are fitted with the Giat Industries DEFA 791B 30-mm cannon, witch fires 2500 rounds per minute.

 

- Rafale is fitted with 14 hard points (13 on the Rafale M)

Five of these are designed for external tanks and heavy ordnance.

 

Mica interception, BVR combat and self-defense missile (IR and EM versions)

The future AASM range of modular air-to-ground missiles

The 1985lb ASMP nuclear cruise missile

The Scalp/Storm-Shadow/Black Shaheen family of long-range stand-off missiles

Matra Apache Sub-monition dispenser weapons.

Anti-ship missiles (Exocet and future ANF supersonic Anti-ship missile)

Matra BLG 1000 laser-guided bomb

 

Dassault Rafale Order book:

France:  120 officially ordered (nov. 2008) IN SERVICE, FRENCH MILITARY: (Armée de l’Air)    34 Rafale (26 Rafale B and 8 Rafale C) (Aéronavale)        25 Rafale M.

 

Rafale Test-Fleet:
Type	Registration	Configuration	first-flight
Rafale A	F-ZWRE	single seat	July 4th,1986
Rafale C	C01	single seat	May 19th,1991
Rafale B	B01	dual	April 30th, 1993
Rafale M	M01 / F-ZWVM	single seat	December 12th,1991
Rafale M	M02	dual	November 8th, 1993

Dassault Mirage FI

The Mirage F1 was designed in the same period as the F2 and it had to be the successor of the Mirage IIIC after a government contract that was awarded by the French authorities in 1964. The F1 had to be a conventional swept back winged Multirole fighter. 

The first prototype which was a private venture flew on December 23rd 1966, and three pre-series aircraft were ordered in September 1967, and the first flew on March 20th 1969. The production model for the French Armée de l’Air was named Mirage F1C. 

The F1C was powered by the Atar 9K-50 turbojet with a thrust of 7200 kg with afterburn. 

A later model of the Mirage F1, the F1.M53 was a contender for succeeding the F-104 Starfighter in the Air Forces of Belgium, Denmark, The Netherlands and Norway together with the Saab 37 Viggen and the General Dynamics F-16 (the last won this contract).

This version of the F1 was powered by a more powerful engine: The SNECMA M53 turbofan rated at 8500 kg’s thrust with afterburn.

Because the F1.M53 did not win the contract, plans for a second prototype were canceled, and it did not came in production.

 

Developing Nation:	France
Manufacturer/designer:	Dassault
Task:	Fighter / bomber
First Flight:	- prototype: December 23rd 1966- pre-series first flight: March 20th 1969
Initial order:	- 169x F1C interceptors (order 1969 Armée de l’Air)- 64x F1CR recce (order 1969 Armée de l’Air) - 20x F1B double seaters (order 1969 Armée de l’Air)
First Delivery:	1970
First Operational:	1974
Crew:	- F1C: 1- F1CR: 1 - F1B: 2 (trainer)
Ejection Seat:	Martin Baker Mk4
	Dassault Mirage F1C
Wing Span:	8,40 m (ex. missiles)
Wing Area:	25,00 m²
Length:	15,30 m
Height:	4,50 m
Engine (s):	1x Atar 9K-50 turbojet (7200 kg thrust with afterburner)
Weight:	7400 kg
Max. Take off weight:	16200 kg
Max. Speed:	- 1470 Kph at sea level- 2335 Kph at 12000 m
Max. Endurance:	Combat air patrol endurance (with two Super 530 AAM’s + one ventral tank: 2,25 hours
g limits:	+9 / -3 g
Radar:	Cyrano IV radar
Wingtip hard points:	both wings for AAM missiles
Weapons:	- two 30 mm canon’s- two Matra 550 Magic AAM’s - two Matra R 530 or 530 Super AAM’s

 

	Dassault Mirage F1.M53
Wing Span:	8,40 m (ex. missiles)
Wing Area:	25,00 m²
Length:	15,30 m
Height:	4,50 m
Engine (s):	1x SNECMA M53 turbofan (8500 kg thrust with afterburner)
Weight:	8024 kg
Max. Take off weight:	15200 kg
Max. Speed:	- 1532 Kph at sea level- 2335 Kph at 12000 m
Max. range:	- HI-LO-HI mission profile with four 454 kg. bombs: 1200 km
g limits:	+9 / -3 g
Radar:	-
Wingtip hard points:	both wings for AAM missiles
Weapons:	- two 30 mm canon’s- Up to 4000 kg. of ordnance between seven external stations

 

Countries that bought the Dassault Mirage F1:
Ecuador	16x F1AJ
France	169x F1C64x F1CR 20x F1B
Greece	40x F1CG
Iraq	113x F1EQ
Jordan	17x F1CJ17x F1EJ
Kuwait	27x F1CK
Libya	16x F1AD16x F1ED
Morocco	30x F1CH20x F1EH
Qatar	12x F1EDH
South Africa	32x F1AZ16x F1CZ
Spain	45x F1CE22x F1EE

Dassault-Breguet Mirage IV

In need for transport for their Atomic Bomb, the French Air Force brought out specifications in 1954 for a very fast long distance bomber.

Dassault was leading a consortium that (at first) was monitoring the development of the Sud-Ouest S.O. 4050 Vautour, but their interest was focused in 1956 on the possibilities of re-developing earlier studies of Dassault for a two-engine night fighter.

These studies led to the design of the Mirage IV, in fact an enlarged Mirage III with two engines and possibilities to transport a 60 kiloton AN22 Glider bomb.

The prototype flew for the first time in June 1959 thanks to the propulsion of two SNECMA Atar 9 turbojets (59,53 kN). It proved that it could keep up speeds of Mach 2 at high altitude.

Three pre-production aircraft were build with over the whole slightly lager measurements  and two Atar 9C turbojets (63,50 kN). The first of those three flew in October 1961 and represented the Mirage IV A production model with a round radar dome under de fuselage for the antenna  of the bomb-aiming radar.

The last of the three pre-production models was fitted with Atar 9K engines, the possibility of midair refueling and the latest navigation- and attack-systems.

The Mirage IV A production counted a total of 62 aircraft, twelve of those were later converted  to Mirage IV R strategic reconnaissance-aircraft with the CT52 ‘Mission package’ in the former bomb-bay.

In the middle of the eighties another 18 Mirage IV’s were upgraded to Mirage IV P ‘Missile Carriers’ They got new navigation and attack systems and improved electronic defense systems. The Mirage IV P is designed for penetrating enemy airspace on low altitudes as Launchers of the ASMP missiles with nuclear warheads.

Dassault-Breguet Mirage IV
Developing Nation:	France
First Flight(s):	June 1959
Crew:	2
Wing Span:	11,85 m
Wing:	78 m2
Length:	23,50 m
Weight empty:	14.500 kg.
Weight Max. Load:	31.600 kg.
Engine (s):	two SNECMA Atar 09K turbojets (69,44 kN) with afterburner
Max. Speed:	2124 Kph. (Mach 2,2) at 11.000 m
Max. Height:	20.000 m
Max. Range:	1600+ (without refueling)
Weapons:	- 1x one megaton nuclear bomb half sunk under the hull

Dassault Falcon 7X

The Dassault Falcon 7X is world’s most efficient long range fly-by-wire business jet, is a ground-breaking design manufactured in a radically new way.

The launch of the Falcon 7X presented an ideal opportunity for Dassault to use two of its major assets the Catia three-dimensional computer-aided design system developed by sister company Dassault Systèmes, and a fly-by-wire (FBW) flight-control system. FBW has been a feature of Dassault combat aircraft for several years, but this is the first time it has been incorporated into a business jet. Together, the above systems have allowed Dassault to optimize the design of the 7X.

Dassault Dornier Alpha Jet

The Dassault Dornier Alpha Jet is a French / German jet trainer and strike aircraft. The French version is a trainer, and the German version primarily a strike aircraft. The Alpha Jet is a twin engine aircraft with a high-site, moderately wing. 

German Alpha Jets were flown almost exclusively as single-seat close support weapons trainer, or battlefield reconnaissance aircraft. Weapons load and avionics do not match those of more advanced jets, but the Alpha Jet is maneuverable, easy to fly and simple to maintain. It’s equipment allows it to obtain great efficiency when planning and executing missions. 

The Head Up Display (HUD) saves the pilot from looking down in the cockpit to read the instruments, by superimposing data on a clear plate mounted at the pilot’s eye level.

The naviagtion and fire control computers are rather precise and permit a great flexibility on attack missions, the use of AFA computer makes it simpler, quicker and more efficient to plan a mission. There is also other equipment that allows the crew members to have a good combat survivability.

NB. The Alpha Jet A has a ’sharper nose’ then the Alpha Jet E 

Developing Nation:	France and Germany
Task:	Trainer / strike and close support
First Flight:	- Alpha Jet A: January 9th 1974 (D-9594)- Alpha Jet E: October 26th 1973 (F-WZRO)
Prototypes:	- Alpha Jet A:02/D-9594 (ff: January 9th 1974)04/D-9595 (ff: October 11th 1974 crashed 23 January 1976)- Alpha Jet E: F-WZRO (ff: October 26th 1973) F-WZRV (ff: May 6th 1974 )
First Delivery:	- French Air Force: May 4th 1979- Luftwaffe: March 20th 1980
Crew:	2
Ejection seat:
Wing Span:	9,11 m
Length:	- Alpha Jet A: 13,23 m- Alpha Jet E: 12,29 m
Height:
Engine (s):	- Alpha Jet A: GRTS (SNECMA Turbomeca) Lazarc 04-C20 (2x)- Alpha Jet E: GRTS (SNECMA Turbomeca) Lazarc 04-C6 (2x)
Weight:	3515 kg
Max.Take off weight:	6100 kg
Max. Speed:	917 km/h
Max. Range:	- Just on internal fuel: 2780 km (1900 liters)- With extra external fuel: 4000 km (extra 600 liters)
Operation altitude:	14630 m
Weapons:	- Mauser BK.27 cannon or DEFA 553 gun-pod- AIM-9 Sidewinder- R.550 Magic II- AGM-65 Maverick - GP Bombs - Hunting BL755 cluster bombs -Matra RL F4 - Rockets & Bomb rack SUU 20A - BLG-66 Belouga - Bombs MK82 ‘Snake Eye’ - Exercise bombs MK106 - Bombs BLU-1CB
Extra:

Countries who use(d) the Alpha Jet: 

Belgium	33 Alpha Jet E
Cameroon	7 Alpha Jet MS2
Egypt	30 Alpha Jet MS1 & 15 MS2
France	175 Alpha Jet E
Germany	175 Alpha Jet A
Ivory coast	12 Alpha Jet E
Maroc	24 Alpha Jet E
Nigeria	24 Alpha Jet E
Portugal	50 Alpha Jet A **
Qatar	6 Alpha Jet E
Thailand	20 Alpha Jet A **
Togo	5 Alpha Jet E
United Kingdom	12 Alpha Jet A **

** Ex German Air Force