Super-Mirage

Super-Mirage
Super-Mirage prototype 001 in the late 1970s.
Role	Interceptor, air superiority fighter, Strike fighter
National origin	Sieuxerr
Manufacturer	Dassault
Designer	Dassault
First flight	1977
Introduction	1984
Status	In service
Primary user	Sieuxerrian Air Force Solevant Air Force
Produced	1984–present
Number built	300~
Developed from	Dassault Mirage 2000

The Dassault Super Mirage (Known also as the Super Mirage 4000 or simply the Mirage 4000) is a twin or single-seat, twinjet, interceptor, air superiority fighter and Strike fighter used by the Sieuxerrian Air Force and other allied countries. Developed from the Dassault Mirage 2000, the Super Mirage is enlarged with better overall capabilities. It is analogous with the Letnian Su-27, Menghean SR-8, Anglian Typhoon, and the Tir Glasian F-15.

The Mirage 4000 was initially developed to maximize use of older and previously used parts developed for other aircraft, as the Mirage 4000, along with the Mirage 2000, had been developed right before and into the Great Malaise. Both the 2000 and 4000 were designed to be later expanded upon as economic and material conditions would improve in Sieuxerr. The Mirage 2000 would encounter problems later in life as its design was relatively difficult and costly to upgrade, with the majority being removed from service before 2020. Contrary to this the Mirage 4000 has enjoyed a long service life and is expected to serve well into the 2040s as a strike fighter to complement the 5th generation fighters coming into service.

Design

Cockpit

Cockpit of an early Mirage 4000

Engines

The Super-Mirage is equipped with two Snecma M53 afterburning turbofan engines. Equipped with the improved M53-P2 found in the Mirage-Menace and the Dassault Mirage 2000. From 2005 to 2011, the entire fleet was upgraded with the M88-10 engine, based off the M88-2 engine used by the Rafale, generating 70 kN (15,500 lbf) and 100 kN (25,000 lbf) (with afterburner). The engine greatly improved handling of the aircraft at speed.

Weaponry

The Menace is equipped with a single 30mm GIAT 30 revolver cannon with selectable rate of fire of 300 rpm to 2,500 rpm. It is mounted under the right intake.

Avionics

The Super-Mirage uses a derivative of the Thomson-CSF Giraffe radar from the Menace. It achieves upwards of 165km range against comparable fighter-sized objects with over 270km range against large bomber-sized objects. It has multi-target tracking abilities. In the mid-2000s, apart of a major overhaul, the older mechanically scanned radar arrays were replaced by electronically scanned active radar arrays.

Operators

Current

• Sieuxerr
  • Sieuxerrian Air Force -
  • Sieuxerrian Navy - 48 in active service, with an additional 8 in storage for parts.
    • Flottille 17F - 12
    • Flottille 20F - 12
    • Flottille 23F - 12
    • Flottille 25F - 12

Specifications

Mirage 4000

General characteristics

• Crew: 2 (Pilot and Weapon Systems Officer)
• Length: 19.1 m (62.66 ft)
• Wingspan: 11.2 m (36.7 ft)
• Height: 5.8 m (19 ft)
• Empty weight: 14,187 kg (31,276 lb)
• Max. takeoff weight: 29,000 kg (63,934 lb)
• Powerplant: 2 × M53-P20 afterburning turbofans
  • Dry thrust: 64.7 kN (14,545 lbf) each
  • Thrust with afterburner: 98,06 kN (22,044 lbf) each

Performance

• Maximum speed:
  
  • High altitude: Mach 2.2
  • Low altitude: Mach 1.2
• Combat radius: 2,000 km (1,242 mi)
• Ferry range: 5,000 km (3,106 mi)
• Service ceiling: 20,000 m (65,616 ft)
• Rate of climb: 305 m/s (60,000 ft/min)
• Thrust/weight: 0.9

Armament

• Guns: 1× 30mm GIAT 30 revolving autocannon, 125 rounds
• Hardpoints: Total of 12: Six under-wing, four under-fuselage, two centerline pylon stations.  and provisions to carry combinations of:
  • Missiles:
    
  • Air-to-air:
    • 8× R.550 Magic II
    • 8× Super R.530F/D
    • 8× Meteor
    • 16× MICA
  • Air-to-ground:
    • 2× MM80
    • 2× Storm Shadow
    • 4× AS-30L
    • 4× Super Martel AS.37
  • Bombs:
    
    • 4× BGL-400 or AASM-400
    • 10× BGL-250 or AASM-250
    • 18× BLG-66
    • 27× Durandal
  • Other:
    
    • Up to 3 2,500 l external fuel tank
    • DAMOCLES targeting pod
    • PDLCT targeting pod
    • Navigation pod
    • Eletronic warfare pod
    • Reconnaissance pod