 {| |} the dassault mirage 2000n is a variant of the mirage 2000 designed for nuclear strike. it forms the core of the french air-based tactical nuclear deterrent. the mirage 2000d is its conventional attack counterpart. ==development== the mirage 2000n was designed to french requirements for an aircraft to replace the older mirage ivp. dassault received a contract to build two prototypes. the aircraft first flew on 3 february 1986. seventy four were built up to 1993. the mirage 2000n is based on the mirage 2000b two-seat trainer, but features considerable changes. the airframe was strengthened for low-level flight and fitted with an antilope 5 radar, which is used for terrain following, navigation and ground mapping, and which can follow terrain at . other avionic features are twin ins's and moving map displays for both the pilot and weapon systems officer. the mirage 2000n can carry one asmp medium-range nuclear missile, and can also carry two matra magic aam's for self-defence. other protection features include the sabre jamming system and the spirale chaff system. because the extra seat decreases range, a pair of drop tanks are carried. since the mirage 2000n's standard weapon was the asmp, which was carried on the centerline pylon, that meant it couldn't carry a centerline tank, but a distinctive big 2,000 liter (530 us gallon) underwing drop tank with a bulbous nose was developed to more than compensate the first batch of 30 aircraft for the french air force had a sole nuclear capability, and these were designated mirage 2000n-k1. these did not have the spirale chaff system, and carried a pair of an.52 free-fall nuclear bombs before the asmp was ready. the later batch of 44 aircraft were designated mirage 2000n-k2. these had both a nuclear and conventional capability, and a full defensive fit. the k1 aircraft now have a limited conventional attack capabil
Dassault_aircraft