MIRAGE 2000-5: How will they be able to interact with F-16 and what will the Armed Forces (photo)
According to military observers, these planes will be useful for intercepting winged missiles and drones. Despite the high cost of weapons, they can be an important complement to the existing air park of the Armed Forces, providing information exchange and coordination with F-16 thanks to Link 16 system. ) and extended set of high -precision weapons. The 5F modification included the updates of Avionica and the integration of Mica missiles that replaced Magic 2 and Super 530.
The 2000s version, originally focused on export, attracted the attention of the French command after wars in the Persian Gulf and in the Balkans. In 1993, under pressure from Dassault, the French government ordered the modernization of 37 M2000C aircraft to M2000-5F. The first upgraded aircraft came into service in 2000 and interested Greece, Qatar and the UAE. Production ended in 2007 with the transmission of the last MiRage 2000-5 MK. 2 of the Greek Air Force.
Ukraine will receive Miage 2000-5F aircraft, upgraded from the French Mirage 2000C, produced in 1982-1986. These fighter jets are equipped with Link 16 communication system, Mica air-air missiles with active or infrared self-esteem heads, updated RDY-2 radar and improved engine. The LINK 16 system allows aircraft to exchange real -time information and adjust the Mica missile trajectory.
The RDY-2 radar, developed in 1998-2000, provides a range of air targets up to 120 km and land-up to 40 km, can simultaneously monitor 24 targets and accompany eight of them, firing up to four. The main weapon is Mica missiles, which, despite the modular design, have disadvantages. The maximum range of a rocket with an active head is 80 km, which is inferior to the American AIM-120 (120 km), European Meteor (more than 200 km), Russian P-77 (110 km) and Japanese Type 99 (120 km).
The infrared head variant has a range of 60 km, maneuverability and weight of 113 kg, with a combat part of 13 kg. However, the price of one rocket is about 2 million euros, which is much more expensive than analogues such as AIM-9x Block 3 for $ 600,000 and AIM-20d for $ 1. 6 million. According to military experts, Miage 2000-5F, mostly intended for air advantage, will be transferred to Ukraine in their original configuration.
Despite the fact that they do not reach the F-16 level in their characteristics, these fighters can be a valuable complement to the existing park of Soviet-made aircraft and F-16. The most important role of Miage 2000-5F in the reflecting of Russian aggression can be the interception of winged missiles and drones, despite the high cost of their weapons for such tasks.