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 French Dassault-Breguet Mirage 2000N multirole fighter that was attached to EC 2/4 "La Fayette", then deployed to Luxueil, France, during July 1992. Pre-order! Ship Date: June 2026.

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

Release Date: ?