AirForces Monthly – July 2018

scadron de Chasse (EC) 2/4 ‘La

Fayette’ is scheduled to disband at

Istres on June 26, only to reform at

Saint-Dizier as a Rafale B squadron shortly

afterwards. The event will mark the official

withdrawal of the Mirage 2000N, bringing to

a close a career that began 30 years ago.

The Mirage 2000N (N for Nucléaire) is a

product of the Cold War. Initially designated

Mirage 2000P (for Pénétration), the

Mirage 2000N – a derivative of the

two-seat Mirage 2000B used

for conversion training – was

specifically developed for the

nuclear deterrence mission.

In the late 1970s and early

1980s, a requirement emerged

for a nuclear strike variant to

supplement the Mirage IV (which

was being upgraded to IVP standard) and

replace the fast-ageing Mirage IIIE and Jaguar

A, both armed with the 25-kiloton AN-52 free-

fall nuclear bomb. This led to the low-level-

optimised Mirage 2000N which became the

first French aircraft in operational service

with automatic terrain-following capabilities

thanks to the then new Antilope 5 radar.

The jet was specifically designed to penetrate

the formidable Soviet air defence

network, its weapon system

being built around the ASMP

(Air-Sol Moyenne Portée, Air-

to-Surface Medium Range)

standoff ramjet-propelled missile

which considerably increased

the survivability of the launch platform while

improving delivery range. The ASMP was also

adopted for the Mirage IVP and Super Étendard.

State-of-the-art systems

In sharp contrast to the older Jaguar

and Mirage III, equipped only with basic

navigation kit and rudimentary standalone

self-defence systems, the Mirage 2000N

and the closely related 2000D conventional

The French Air Force is withdrawing

the Mirage 2000N, the nuclear

deterrence variant of the acclaimed

delta fighter, after three decades of

sterling operational service, writes

Henri-Pierre Grolleau.

Mirage 2000N

Adieu,

E

product of the Cold War. Initially designated

Mirage 2000P (for Pénétration), the

Mirage 2000N – a derivative of the

The jet was specifically designed to penetrate

the formidable Soviet air defence

network, its weapon system

being built around the ASMP

(Air-Sol Moyenne Portée, Air-

to-Surface Medium Range)

standoff ramjet-propelled missile

which considerably increased

80 // JULY 2018 #364 http://www.airforcesmonthly.com

France’s ‘big stick’ retires