From: tzung@cbnewsf.cb.att.com (tzung-i.lin)
Subject: Mirage 2000-5 Details!
Organization: AT&T
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 10 Sep 1992 19:31:17 GMT

First of all, these are from my friend:

=============================================================
    The following is quoted from UPI news broadcast 9/10 4am PDT :

Despite warnings from China, France... after hesitating for months...
has agreed in principle to sell Taiwan 60 Mirage fighter jets.
Government sources... speaking on condition of anonimity... say with the
political decision taken, only commercial obstacles remain before
completion of the two-and-a-half (2.6) BILLION dollar sale.
Last week, President Bush agreed to sell Taiwan up to 150 F-16
fighters despite opposition from Taiwan's archenemy, communist China.
And French officials privately admit his decision made it easier for
them to agree to the Mirage sale, because it reduces China's ability to
take countermeasures against Paris without taking similar steps against
Washington.
=============================================================

Now, for the Mirage 2000-5 specs:

According to the broucher that Dassault sent me (yes, you can ask 
for them),  Dassault is developing three new variants of Mirage 2000:
Multirole Mirage 2000-5, Penetration Mirage 2000D and Strike Mirage 2000S.

The multirole Mirage 2000-5 can execute the following five different roles:

	1. Air-to-air multitarget interception with MICA AAM
	2. Close-in ground attack and penetration by day
	3. Ground attack and penetration by NIGHT
	4. Air-to-Sea attack with long range ASM missile
	5. Long distance Reconnaissance and Electroics Warefare

Aerodynamics/Engines:
	Remains the same as the Mirage 2000C currently in service of French
and six other countries.  Powered by a 22,000 lb thrust SNECMA M53-P2.

Avionics/Radar:
	This is completely NEW!!  An multirole radar RDY which
differs from Mirage 2000C's RDI (an APG-63 equivalent which is used in
F-15) in that it can be "switched" by software to different roles.
The most important function to Taiwan's need is its ability to attack
multiple target at one time using MICA AAM (later).  The cockpit is redesigned
with 1 wide range HUD and three CRT head down display.  The new
addition is two computer controlled mission management to releive
the pilot's load on various roles.  Simply put it : Computer aided
mission control.  It also has capability of carrying FLIR sensor.
(Forward Looking Infra-Red)  The cockpit looks very impressive
with easy and managable look.  It reminds me alot of Rafale and
Sweden's JAS-39 (also a multirole fighter with similar "software"
triggered mission control)

Weapons:
	In addition to the Magic 550 and Super 530D AAMs and many
other air-to-ground weapons (smart bomb, ASM, rockets, MM-38 EXOCET ASM)
the new and unique addition is the MICA active radar homing medium
range stand-off AAM.  This and the RDY radar enables Mirage 2000-5
to engage 4 targets at the same time in both look up and look down TWS mode
(Track-While-Scan).  MICA is fire-and-forget AAM, while unlike
AIM-7F Sparrow which still needs the aircraft to illuminate the target
for the missile. (the semi-active homing)  In a word, similar to
the US AMRAAM.  RDY/MICA lets Mirage 2000-5 engages four medium range
enemy aircraft, then immediately frees herself, after firing the missiles, 
to engage other close-rage target using R550 AAM or its twin 30mm gun.
This gives a superior interception capability that Taiwan wants.
(Current only F-14 with AIM-54 Phoenix AAM can do similar task,
the USAF F-15 can't even do it until AMRAAM are in service,
wait a second, the SU-27/MiG-29/AA-9 will also)

Judging from these technical description, Mirage 2000-5 really suites our need,
if we get the RDY/MICA as a whole package.  It provides us superior
air-interception mission with ground attck/penetration as her second role.
And thirdly, it can also carry two "Strong Wind" ASM to defend the 
invasion from the sea.  BUT, 60 seems too little to fulfill
so many tasks :-)

Final thoughts, we should get 20-24 Mirage 2000D twin seat penetration 
strike force in order to destroy invader's  airfield to interrupt
their attack continuity.

But what kind of package are we getting?? RDY/MICA?? anyone?
Maybe AW&ST next week will tell us more about this deal ...

Tzung-I

Newsgroups: soc.culture.taiwan