Dassault Mirage 4000 facts for kids

class="infobox " style="float: right; clear: right; width: 315px; border-spacing: 2px; text-align: left; font-size: 90%;" ! colspan="2" style="text-align: center; font-size: large; padding-bottom: 0.3em;" | Mirage 4000 |-

|- | colspan="2" style="text-align: center;" | |- |colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #aaa;text-align:center;" |Mirage 4000 prototype |-

! Role | Prototype fighter aircraft |- ! National origin | France |- ! Manufacturer | Dassault-Breguet |-

! First flight | 9 March 1979 |-

! Status | Program cancelled in 1988 |- ! Primary user | French Air Force (intended) |-

! Number built | 1 |-

! Developed from | Dassault Mirage 2000 |-

|}

Mirage 4000 prototype displayed at the Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace at Le Bourget, France

The Dassault Mirage 4000 was a French prototype, or test, fighter aircraft. It was also known as the Super Mirage 4000. This powerful jet was developed by the company Dassault-Breguet. It was based on their earlier Mirage 2000 aircraft.

Building the Mirage 4000

The Mirage 4000 was much bigger and heavier than the Mirage 2000. The Mirage 2000 had only one engine, but the 4000 had two powerful SNECMA M53-2 turbofan engines.

This new jet also had small wings called canards near the front. These were placed above the engine air intakes. It also featured a "bubble canopy," which is a clear dome over the cockpit. This gave the pilot a much better view.

Even with these changes, the Mirage 4000 looked a lot like the Mirage 2000. Both planes had a special delta wing design, shaped like a triangle. They also shared similar air intakes and overall shape.

First Flight and Purpose

The Mirage 4000 took its first flight on March 9, 1979. The Dassault company paid for this project themselves. They wanted to create a plane that could fly long distances to stop enemy aircraft. It was also designed to be a strong fighter-bomber, able to attack targets on the ground.

The Mirage 4000 was similar in size to the American F-15 Eagle fighter jet.

Why the Project Ended

In the early 1980s, Dassault decided to stop working on the Mirage 4000. This happened after Saudi Arabia chose a different plane, the Panavia Tornado, for their air force. Iran was also a possible customer, but they could not buy the plane after a big change in their government in 1979.

The French Air Force also preferred to focus on the smaller Mirage 2000. This meant Dassault had no customers for the Mirage 4000. However, the knowledge gained from building this prototype helped in designing the Dassault Rafale, another successful French fighter jet.

The only Mirage 4000 prototype flew a total of 336 times. Its last flight was on January 8, 1988. In November 1992, this unique aircraft was moved to its final home. It is now displayed at the Musée de l'air et de l'espace (Paris Air and Space Museum).

Mirage 4000 Features

Comparing the Mirage 4000 and Mirage 2000B

Data from Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1984–85, Dassault Aviation

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 18.7 m (61 ft 4 in)
• Wingspan: 12 m (39 ft 4 in)
• Height: 5.8 m (19 ft 0 in)
• Wing area: 73 m² (790 sq ft)
• Gross weight: 16,100 kg (35,494 lb)
• Fuel capacity: approx 11,000 L (2,900 US gal; 2,400 imp gal) internal fuel
• Powerplant: 2 × SNECMA M53-2 afterburning turbofan engines, 64.3 kN (14,500 lbf) thrust each dry, 95.1 kN (21,400 lbf) with afterburner

Performance

• Maximum speed: 2,445 km/h (1,519 mph; 1,320 kn)
• Maximum speed: Mach 2.3
• Maximum sustained speed: M2.2
• Approach speed: 260 km/h (160 mph; 140 kn)
• Range: 2,000 km (1,243 mi; 1,080 nmi)
• Combat range: 1,850 km (1,150 mi; 999 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 20,000 m (66,000 ft)
• Rate of climb: 305 m/s (60,000 ft/min)
• Time to altitude: 15,000 m (49,213 ft) (M2) 3 minutes
• Wing loading: 220 kg/m² (45 lb/sq ft)

Armament

• Guns:
  

• 2x 30 mm (1.181 in) DEFA cannon with 125 rpg

• Hardpoints: 11 with a capacity of 8,000 kg (17,637 lb) +,with provisions to carry combinations of:
  • Other:
    

• up to 3x 2,500 L (660 US gal; 550 imp gal) drop tanks
• FLIR pod
• Recce pod
• laser designator pod

• Rockets:
  

• up to 4x rocket pods

• Missiles:
  

• 2x long-range AAM
• 8-14 advanced AAMs
• up to 4 AGMs

• Bombs:
  

• up to 27 x 250 kg (551 lb) bombs

See also

In Spanish: Dassault Mirage 4000 para niños

Aircraft related to this one

• Dassault Mirage 2000
• Dassault Mirage 2000N/2000D
• Atlas Carver
• Dassault MD.750

Similar aircraft

• McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle
• Sukhoi Su-27

Lists related to this aircraft

• List of fighter aircraft
• List of military aircraft of France