The Mirage 2000 was developed by Dassault-Breguet for the Armee de l'Air as an alternative to the swing-wing Avion de Combat Futur. After the latter was cancelled in 1975 due to its growing cost and complexity, Dassault offered the Mirage 2000 as an alternative. Development of this aircraft would also give the company a competitor to the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon, which had defeated the Dassault Mirage F1 in a contest for a new fighter for the air forces of Belgium, Denmark, Netherlands and Norway.

The prototype made its first flight on March 10th, 1978 with test pilot Jean Coreau at the controls. There were four single-seat prototypes, including the initial Mirage 2000 prototype. The first production example flew on November 20th, 1982 and the aircraft went into operational service in 1984. The first Mirage 2000 to go into service was the single-seat Mirage 2000C interceptor. Deliveries began in 1983. The first operational squadron was formed in 1984, the 50th anniversary of the French Air Force. A total of 124 Mirage-2000Cs were obtained by the AdA.

The first 37 Mirage 2000Cs delivered were fitted with the Thomson-CSF RDM (Radar Doppler Multifunction) and were powered by the SNECMA M53-5 turbofan engine. The 38th Mirage 2000C had an upgraded SNECMA M53-5 P2 turbofan engine. The Radar Doppler Impulse (RDI) built by Thales did not enter service until 1987.

Pictured here is a 1:72 scale replica of a Mirage 2000C which participated in Operation Desert Storm, particularly "Daguet Operation", in 1991. Sold Out!

Dimensions:
Wingspan: 7-3/4-inches
Length: 5-inches

Release Date: August 2007

Historical Account: "Vive la France!" - Many consider the Armee de l'Air to have been the first professional air force in the world. The French took an active interest in developing their air force and had the first fighter pilots of World War I. During the interwar years, however, particularly in the 1930s, the quality fell when compared with the Luftwaffe, which crushed both the French and British air forces during the Battle of France.

In the post World War II era, the French made a concerted and successful effort to develop a homegrown aircraft industry. Dassault Aviation led the way forward with their unique and effective delta-wing designs, which formed the basis for the famous Mirage series of jet fighters.

The Mirage repeatedly demonstrated its deadly abilities in the Six-Day War and the Gulf War, becoming one of the most popular and well-sold aircraft in the history of military aviation along the way. Currently, the French Air Force is expanding and replacing. The French are awaiting the A400M military transport aircraft, which is still in developmental stages, and the integration of the new Rafale multi-role jet fighter, whose first squadron of 20 aircraft became operational in 2006 at Saint-Dizier.