In the early 1970's, the French Air Force launched studies for a replacement of its  Mirage III, Mirage F1 and Jaguar.

This program was the ACF (Avion de Combat Futur-Futur Combat Aircraft) : a twin-engine twin-role interdictor and air superiority aircraft.

Two main proposals came out of these studies : The Mirage G8 (variable geometry) and the Mirage 4000.

The first oil crisis in 1973 put an end to that ambitious program (which would rise from its ashes ten years later as the ACT-Avion de Combat Tactique-Tactical Combat Aircraft then Rafale) and the French Air Force had to choose a "low cost" single-engine and relatively small fighter.
 
 

The Mirage 2000 is a multi-purpose aircraft designed primarily for air defence . Later, the N and D versions have been optimized as all-weather interdictors (see Mirage 2000 versions).

Its maximum speed at high altitude is Mach 2+ for a combat ceiling of 50,000 ft.
Its delta configuration makes the Mirage 2000 look like its predecessor, the Mirage III, but the analogy stops there.
The flight control system is based on fly-by-wire, allowing high maneuvrabilty and angle of attack while its engine is a 20,000 lb. class turbofan SNECMA M53-P2.
All its digitalized navigation and attack systems are interconnected through a digital bus, allowing all the equipments to exchange information.
To control its parameters, the pilots has one head up display plus a head-down which can be used to display radar or TV picture. The D and -5 versions have respectively four and five displays : head-up, head-down, laterals (plus head-level for the -5).
To extend its radius of action, the Mirage 2000 has an air to air refueling capability based on the probe and drogue system. Its probe is fixed on the front right side of the aircraft.
All the single-seaters have two DEFA 554 30 m/m internal guns.

On its nine store stations, the Mirage 2000 can carry loads like :
    - Conventional high- or low-drag bombs (MK82, ...)
    - Cluster bombs (Rockeye, BAT120, BLG66, ...)
    - Anti-runway bombs (Durandal, BAP100)
    - Anti-ship missiles (AM39 Exocet)
    - Anti-radiation missiles (ARMAT)
    - Laser guided missiles or bombs (AS30L, Matra BGL, PGM)
    - Reconnaissances pods (COR, HAROLD)
    - Air to air missiles (MICA, S530F and D, M550 Magic)
    - Buddy-buddy refueling pod
    - External jettisonable fuel tanks

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