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Calling Mirage experts...


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So I picked up the Eduard Mirage 2000D/N model. I really want to build the N or "Nuclear" strike variant. The kit comes with the infamous 300kT Aerospatiale Air-Sol Moyenne Portee (ASMP) nuclear stand-off missile... for the center pylon, 2 fuel tanks for the inner wing pylons, and the kit also comes with 2x R550 Magic (short-range missile)... now the kit instructions do not call for the Magic to be installed. However, the launch rails have also been provided...

So based on this pic I found...

FR_Mirage2000N-2.jpg

... I figure I can do this loadout since it was an operational loadout.

So on to my question, which I have been bantering about with Gary via PM's for a few days now...

The kit comes with decals depicting the following:

1) Mirage 2000N 318, EC.02.004 LaFayetter, Luxeuil/St. Sauveur AFB, EBFS Florennes 2004, Belgium (Green/Gray scheme with gray bottom)

2) Mirage 2000N 335, EC.02.004 LaFayetter, Luxeuil/St. Sauveur AFB, 2004 (yellow on yellow scheme with gray bottom)

3) Mirage 2000D 612, EC.05.330 Cote d'Argent, Mont-de-Marsan, 1994 (Green/Gray wraparound)

4) Mirage 2000D 626, EC.3/3 Ardennes, Nancy Ochey AFB, 2000 (Green/Gray wraparound)

Gary did some research and found that the Magic was displaced by the Mica's in 1996... I suppose that just like the USAF they had stockpiles of the Magic's that would have to be used up....

Do you guys think that I can do any of these jets with the Magics loaded up? Or stick with the 1994 decal set to be safe? I'm very partial to #1 as it appeared in 2004... but I'm not sure if it would still carry a Magic at that late stage after it's displacement in the armory?

What do you guys think?

Best,

-Greg

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The picture in your post is one of the development aircraft rather than an operational Mirage 2000N with ASMP but the load is still valid.

I think if the 2000N was called upon to deliver the ASMP operationally it may be preferential to not carry any A/A ordnance but rely on the extra speed, agility and endurance to survive the defenses (as per the Mirage IVP when that carried ASMP), however it is certainly valid for the 2000N to carry Magic and they still do so (http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?&aircraftsearch=Dassault%20Mirage%202000N&nr_of_rows=258&first_this_page=15&page_limit=15&sort_order=photo_id+DESC&thumbnails=&engine_version=&nr_pages=18&page=)

As for MICA IR (There is also a radar guided version of Mica but this isn't appropriate for a 2000N) I've not yet seen this on a 2000N so I think Magic is still the standard A/A self defence weapon.

EDIT- I've just looked through some pictures and I've not seen any AdlA Mirage 2000s with MICA IR except the Mirage 2000 -5F (which also carries the radar MICA)

Cheers,

Ed

Edited by eddygrantham
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Ed,

The problem we were having was finding a recent pic of a 2000N carrying live Magics, all the pics on airliners.net look like the ACMI data pod version based on the Magic.

I did find this, which is at least proof that the Magics are still in use (although quite rarely going by recent pictures) and so potentially could still be carried by the 2000N,

Gary

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The N & D are not equipped with the MICA. The Magic II is still in use. The normal warload includes 2 Magics for self defense purpose, also when on a nuclear strike mission for the N.

On the D, over the Balkans (at the end), the load was reduced to only 1 Magic because of the lack of ennemy air threat and to save potential on the missiles.

Edited by squezzer
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I cannot locate any pictures of a 2000N with Mica, only 2000D's and usually and -5 or -9 variant.

For an 2000N the kit weapon load will be fine.

For an 2000D you will need to find suitalbe weapons elsewhere. Some sources are: Heller Jaguar A, Revell Rafale, Skyraider Models.

What US LGBs do they carry, maybe something from a Hasegawa set might be suitable?

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So it looks like I'm good to go with the loadout and using any of the squadron decals provided with the kit... correct? Since I assume the Magics are being even used today and the most recent squadron depiction in the kit is dated 2004...

-Greg

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Magic II's are still in use on the 2000D/N. During OEF Mirage 2000D's were carrying Magics on the outer pylons.The 2000N is moving over to conventional ordnance and can carry both the GBU-12/22 and 24.It cannot self designate though. try this site for some info

http://www.frenchairwings.com/

HTH

Stephen

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AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! That site helps. I've just read the weapons section and figured something out. Those missiles with the tiny little fins at the rear are actually Magics. They're an updated version correct? I've been trying to find pics of 2000N's with the magic with the 8 fins at the front layout :pray: .

Someone tell me that's right....

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AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! That site helps. I've just read the weapons section and figured something out. Those missiles with the tiny little fins at the rear are actually Magics. They're an updated version correct? I've been trying to find pics of 2000N's with the magic with the 8 fins at the front layout :banana: .

Someone tell me that's right....

Gary,

They are "training" Magic's (Magic d'excercice). This diagram shows the Magic I, II and the training version:

http://florent1973.free.fr/FrenchAirWings/...fil_magicII.gif

I guess my logic in my first post was based on the fact that if they carry training Magic, then it must be for a reason- namely that they still "use" the live missiles. Cheers,

Ed

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Kinda what I thought for a start, like the ACMI pods. It's still bugging me though that I can't find a recent photo of a 2000N with the live missile, fins and all... :bandhead2:

Gary,

Have a look at these pictures (copyright of their respective owners). Some show live magics, some show training (as per US convention these have blue bands) and there are some other weapon load pictures included just for interest:

http://www.edsaircraft.co.uk/Armed2000N/1.jpg

http://www.edsaircraft.co.uk/Armed2000N/2.jpg

http://www.edsaircraft.co.uk/Armed2000N/3.jpg

http://www.edsaircraft.co.uk/Armed2000N/4.jpg

http://www.edsaircraft.co.uk/Armed2000N/5.jpg

http://www.edsaircraft.co.uk/Armed2000N/6.jpg

http://www.edsaircraft.co.uk/Armed2000N/7.jpg

http://www.edsaircraft.co.uk/Armed2000N/8.jpg

Cheers,

Ed

Edited by eddygrantham
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Gary,

I'm just about to depart for a weekend away so I can't check in full however:

1)I believe they are GBU-12s on the indigenous dual C/L rack (or can be carried singularly as per the other picture).

2) Some jets were painted like this in the very early 90s for Red Flag (92,92,94 maybe?) and this jet may be either at Red Flag or maybe flying "Deny Flight" over the Balkans which was around that period. I know the jets came back to France (And Waddington on excercise still wearing this camoflage).

Cheers,

Ed

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:coolio: Ta Ed, thats what I was looking for. Couple more questions then, those last two pics are pretty cool, are they GBU-12's under the one with the tarp? And, any idea on the timeframe/conflict for the one in the desert camo?

Gary

On the 7th picture, the aircraft carries 2 GBU 12 under a belly adaptor and 500lbs round under the air intake (seems to be Mk82 with FMU 189 fuze)

On the last pic, I guess it was in the Balkans, around 1994-95. It's the sole conflict the N was involved in, with the 3rd fighter wing from Nancy Air force base. Now this base is equipped with D and is in TDY in Afghanistan (Kandahar AB)

The remaining N are based at Luxeuil AFB and Istres AFB with the 4th fighter wing (although the wings have been disbanded in the french air force around 95-96, aircrafts still wear the number of the wing in their code number, i.e: 7-Hx means an aircraft of the former 7th fighter wing, the "H" is the squadron letter, the 1/7 Provence, in this example, and the "x" is the individual letter.

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