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Aviation History
1980
1980 - 1655.PDF
FUGHT International, 5 luly 1980 47 two Magics and one Super 530. Typical attack loads include 12 or 18 250kg (5001b) bombs or a 1,000kg (2,2001b) centre-line store accom panied by two l,7001it (374gal) tanks and two Magics for self defence. Export sales have evidently not gone as well as expected, though the Ministry of Defence believes that Australia, which rejected Mirage 2000 as its new fighter, "decided before the battle" on political grounds. There was evidence of some tension between developer and exporter in an observation that the export depart ment is anxious to learn the price it will have to charge for the Mirage 2000. The question is important, be cause the Ministry expects to export two Mirage 2000s for every one the French Air Force buys—and has done better than that with the Mirage F.l. Nevertheless, the first export order is not expected to mature before next year. The French Air Force will re ceive between two and four Mirage 2000s a month, with an eventual total of about 400 of all versions. The Mirage 2000 can carry virtually the full range of modern free-fall weapons, pods and air-to-surface missiles and the two-seat strike Mirage 2000 will deliver the tactical nuclear Air-Sol Moyenne Portee missile By early March, the three proto types had so far flown 430 flights, in cluding 66 by Government flight-test centre pilots, 16 by the Air Force and six for autopilot integration. The full flight envelope has been covered and the first two aircraft now carry the aerodynamic modifications deter mined for production aircraft, namely a shorter, broader fin of the same area, a wing-root fairing extended along the fuselage aft of the wing, and changes to the air intakes. All were applied to assist supersonic per formance. All prototypes are now flying with the Snecma M53-5 destined for early production Mirage 2000s, but the M53-P2 was launched last year to give more power. The first M53-P2 is running on the bench and should fly in about two years. The M53-5 gives 5,500kg (12,2101b) thrust cold and 9,000kg (19,8001b) with reheat. Specific fuel consumpt'on with reheat is 4-51Ib/lb-thrust/hr. The M53-P2 will have a third compressor turbine and new hot end and will give 6,530kg (14,3661b) thrust cold and 9,700kg (21,3401b) with reheat. The production M53-5 is to have a reinforced com pressor and controls modified to deal with low airspeeds at altitude and rapid changes of power. Running time now exceeds ll.OOOhr. The Mirage 2000 is limited by its structural materials to Mach 2-1, though it can briefly surge to 2-2 or 2-3. At the maximum permitted load factor of 8g, further rearward move ment of the control column is auto matically blocked, but the stop can be over-ridden. Maximum angle of attack has been no less than 28°, but the flight controls normally limit atti tude to 25°, which can produce speeds below lOOkt at light weights. The Mirage 2000 is reported to fly extremely well and fly-by-wire makes it an excellent weapons platform. Air speed during the approach varies be- tweeen 135kt and 142kt according to weight and the prototypes have been flown in close formation with light aircraft, including Flight's Seneca and an inverted CAP.20. Systems controls are arranged for "hands-on" operation so that the pilot can fight the aircraft without taking his hands off stick and throttle. Radar controls are grouped on the throttle grip: the little finger operates a trigger switch, the fourth positions the guns/missiles/bombs selector, the forefinger operates the radar eleva tion wheel and the thumb operates a four-way radar steering button and the conventional airbrake switch. The basic fiy-by-wire system (com- The interception profile of the Mirage 2000 with RDI radar achieves a missile impact within five minutes of scrambling Z(ft)n 80,000- 50,000 • 20,000 • Climb 650 kt Acceleration !/ Illumination of target -®- Break-away 'P Launch ZoomlOy 3C5 Missile lock-on J© Radar lock-on Detection and Identification Hostile --* M2-5 Z-75,000ft /Climb M0-95 100
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