The Dassault Mirage 2000's of 114 Combat Wing (Pteriga Machis - PM)
Designed as a multi-role single engine jet fighter, the Dassault Mirage 2000 first took to the air on March 10, 1978. The single-seat Mirage 2000C (Chasseur or Fighter) variant designed for air defence entered service in November 1982 with the French Air Force (Armée de l'Air - AdA), it become fully operational in 1984. The two-seat Mirage 2000B conversion trainer followed, it first flight was made on October 11, 1980.
The Mirage 2000N (Nuclear) variant followed, flying for the first time on February 3, 1983. It was designed as a two-seat nuclear strike variant for all weather, low altitude at very high speed, it became operational in 1988. It was followed by a conventional two-seat version, the Mirage 2000D, designed for automated bombing using conventional and laser guided munitions, the first production example first flew on March 31, 1993 and entered service in April 1995.
An improved version of the Mirage 2000C was developed, known as the Mirage 2000-5 the prototype’s initial flight was made on April 27, 1991. The Mirage 2000-5 incorporated advanced avionics, new multiple target air-to-ground and air-to-air firing procedures using the RDY (Radar Doppler Multi-target) radar with new sensor and control systems. The AdA decided to upgrade 37 of its 2000C’s to the 2000-5F standard they became operational in 2000.
A total of 601 Mirage 2000’s were eventually built, including; 124 Mirage 2000C, 30 Mirage 2000B, 75 Mirage 2000N and 86 Mirage 2000D were supplied to the AdA the remainder were produced for export. The production line was finally closed in 2007 when the final aircraft was delivered to Greece in November of that year. |
