The Mirage-2000, an Indian jet fighter is associated with a decisive contribution in a Kargil war! The most versatile and deadliest aircraft has an outstanding history and relevance that one must know.
Mirage-2000 was first commissioned in 1985. It is also known as Vajra (lightning thunderbolt in Sanskrit) a name given by Indian Airforce. It was the development of Dassault Aviation which took its first flight in 1978 and was inducted in French Air Force in 1984.
India's initial order of 36 single-seater Mirage 2000 and 4 twin seated Mirage 2000 in 1982 was an answer to Pakistan purchasing US-based F-16 fighter jets by Lockheed Martin.
What are the specifications associated with the jet fighter?
- The Mirage-2000 makes use of a single shaft engine that is simple and light in weight in comparison to other fighter jet engines and is known as SNECMA M53.
- It was initially designed to seat single fighter pilot but can also be made into a two-seater jet as per the requirements of armed forces'.
- Its length is of 14.36 metre and has a wingspan of 91.3 metres.
- The jet weighs around 7500 kg (dry) and has a total takeoff weight of 17000 kg.
- It can fly with a maximum speed of Mach 2.2 (2336 kmph) and can travel 1550 km with drop tanks.
- The ht of a jet is capped at 59000 ft (17km).
The Mirage is incorporated with a fly-by-wire flight control system and owns a Sextant VE-130 HUD, which displays data related to flight control, navigation, target engagement, and weapon firing. When talking of armament, the fighter plane is capable to carry laser-guided bombs, air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles and has a Thomson-CSF RDY (Radar Doppler Multi-target) radar onboard.
Which countries are having Mirage jets?
Dassault sold the Mirage 2000 to India and eight other countries including home country of France, Egypt, UAE, Peru, Taiwan, Peru, Greece and Brazil.
Let me also inform you that a total of 584 Mirage-2000 jets were produced over 30 years and Rafael is considered to be its successor which has already taken its first flight last year.
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