Editing Dassault Mirage 2000N/2000D (section)

==Development==

The Mirage 2000N was designed to French requirements for an aircraft to replace the older [[Dassault Mirage IVP|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.{{Citation needed|date=January 2013}}

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 {{convert|1112|km/h|abbr=on}}.{{Citation needed|date=January 2013}} Other avionic features are twin [[Inertial navigation system|INS]] units and moving map displays for both the pilot and weapon systems officer. The Mirage 2000N can carry one [[Air-Sol Moyenne Portée|ASMP]] medium-range nuclear missile, and can also carry two [[R550 Magic|MATRA Magic]] [[Air-to-air missile|AAMs]] for self-defence.{{Citation needed|date=January 2013}} Other protection features include the Sabre [[Radar jamming and deception|jamming]] system and the Spirale [[Chaff (countermeasure)|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, this meant that it could not carry a centerline tank, but a distinctive big 2,000 litre (530 US gallon) underwing drop tank with a bulbous nose was developed to more than compensate.{{Citation needed|date=January 2013}}

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 bomb|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 capability.{{Citation needed|date=January 2013}}

Dassault has also developed the '''Mirage 2000D''', which is a development of the Mirage 2000N designed for long-range precision strikes with conventional weapons. This aircraft is exactly the same as the Mirage 2000N, but introduces support for conventional attack missiles such as the [[MBDA Apache|Apache]] and [[Storm Shadow|Scalp]] missiles, as well as the [[Armement Air-Sol Modulaire|AASM]] weapons. The first aircraft, converted from the Mirage 2000N prototype, flew on 19 February 1991, and the French Air Force ordered a total of 86 aircraft.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dassault-aviation.com/en/passion/news/headlines/20-years-for-the-mirage-2000d.html?L=1|title=20 years for the Mirage 2000D|work=Dassault Aviation|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110315044309/http://www.dassault-aviation.com/en/passion/news/headlines/20-years-for-the-mirage-2000d.html?L=1|archive-date=15 March 2011}}</ref>

The Mirage 2000N is not licensed for export. The French Air and Space Force has 62 in its inventory.

Like the Mirage 2000N, the Mirage 2000D had variants. The '''Mirage 2000D-R1''' does not have the full weapons capability of the '''Mirage 2000D-R2''', which features the Apache and Scalp missiles, the [[ATLIS II]] laser designation system, and the Samir self-protection fit.{{Citation needed|date=January 2013}}