Dassault Mirage 4000
| Industry | Aerospace, Defense |
|---|---|
| Founder | Marcel Dassault |
| Headquarters | Paris , France |
| Products | Aircraft, Fighter jets |
The Dassault Mirage 4000, also known as the Super Mirage 4000, is a French prototype fighter jet featuring twin engines, developed by Dassault-Breguet as an evolution of the Mirage 2000.
Design and development
The Mirage 4000 was a larger and heavier aircraft compared to the single-engine Mirage 2000. It was equipped with two SNECMA M53-2 turbofan engines and incorporated small canards positioned above the engine air intakes, alongside a genuine bubble canopy. The design maintained the delta wing configuration and Oswatitsch-style air intakes characteristic of its predecessor.
Its maiden flight took place on 9 March 1979, with Dassault funding the project independently. Similar in dimensions to the American F-15 Eagle, the Mirage 4000 was intended for roles as a long-range interceptor and fighter-bomber.
The development program was discontinued in the early 1980s after the Royal Saudi Air Force opted for the Panavia Tornado, and Iran ceased to be a potential customer following its 1979 revolution. The French Air Force prioritized the Mirage 2000, which left Dassault without further orders for the Mirage 4000. Nevertheless, several technological advancements from this project contributed to the subsequent Dassault Rafale.
Only one prototype was built, completing a total of 336 flights, with its final sortie on January 8, 1988. Since November 1992, this aircraft has been exhibited at the Musée de l'air et de l'espace.