Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series
HA1618Mirage 2000-5EG No.555, Mira 331, Hellenic Air Force, 2016
General Background
The Mirage 2000-5 is the second generation of the Mirage 2000. The French Armée de l’Air was replacing the older version of the Mirage 2000 and the manufacturer had hoped to sell the newer version to them but they had already committed to the Rafale. The manufacturer needed a sale to the ADA to help promote export sales so as a stopgap measure until the Rafale was delivered the ADA upgraded 37 of their early Mirage 2000’s to Dash 5 standards. The Dash 5 had new RDY radar, a new APSI (Advanced Pilot-System Interface) cockpit, MICA missiles and the ICMS Mk. 2 (integrated countermeasures system). The Dash 5 is the first production fighter aircraft ever to be equipped with LCD displays. France, Greece, India, Qatar and Taiwan are equipped with the Dash 5 version of the Mirage 2000.
The Aircraft
The Hellenic Air Force Mira 331 was activated on April 18, 1988 as part of 114 Combat Wing located at Tanagra AB. The 331 was named “Theseus” after the ancient Greek hero of that name. On March 1, 2007 331 All Weather Squadron began to receive the new Mirage 2000 5 Mk III. The aircraft have an improved RDY-radar that can detect up to 24 targets at the same time, track 8 of them and give 4 of them a priority mode. These aircraft use the new MICA missiles which increases the strike range.
Hobby Master HA1618, Mirage 2000-5EG No.555, Mira 331, Hellenic Air Force, 1:72
- This variant is different from the Mirage 2000C only in upgraded radar and avionics. The 2000-5F is also capable of carrying the over-sized drop tanks developed for the 2000N allowing for greater range. These were done to extend the life of the Mirage 2000 until the new Rafale is available.Type: Mirage 2000CFunction: fighterFirst flight: 1978Crew: 1Engines: (1) SNECMA M53-P2 afterburning turbofanThrust: 14,462 lb (64.3 kN) 21,385 lb (95.1 kN) with afterburnerLength: 47.10 ft (14.36 m)Height: 17.02 ft (5.20 m)Wing Area: 441 ft2 (41.98 m2)Wingspan: 29.96 ft (9.13 m)Empty Weight: 16,534 lb (7,500 kg) Max. Weight: 17000 kgNormal take-off weight: 20,944 lb (9,500 kg) [fighter mission]Max take-off weight: 37,480 lb (17,000 kg)Max payload: 13,890 lb (6,300 kg)Speed:At altitude: 1,455 mph (2,340 km/h) at 36,090 ft (11,000 m), Mach 2.2 [sustained] 1,550 mph (2,495 km/h), Mach 2.35 [dash] at sea level: 915 mph (1,470 km/h)Initial rate of climb: 55,971 ft (17,076 m) / minService ceiling: 54,000ft (16,460m)RangeNormal: 380 nm (700 km)Ferry: 2,000 nm (3,704 km)Armament(2) 30-mm DEFA 554 cannons (125 rds ea)External hard-points: 9Air-to-Air Missile: Matra Super 530, Matra 550 Magic, MICAAir-to-Surface Missile: AS.37, AS.39 Exocet, Wasp, ASMP cruise missile, AS30/ARMATARMBombs: BAP 100,Durandal,BGL 1000 laser-guided,250/400 kg GP, cluster bombsOther: ECM pods, rocket pods
