The first samples of a highly maneuverable aircraft with a forward horizontal tail (PGO) were created on the basis of the famous French tailless fighter Mirage 3. These are the Mirage 4000 (France, maiden flight on March 9, 1979), Mirage 3NG (France, 1982).), Mirage 3S (Switzerland, 1983). The Mirage 4000 aircraft has the greatest differences from the prototype. It has a much greater mass and dimensions, and is equipped with two engines. Unlike the rest of the machines indicated here, its PGO is made mobile and serves for control (together with the elevons on the wing).
The Mirage 4000 is the first duck aircraft to feature an artificial stability system.
The Mirage 4000 multipurpose fighter was created by Dassault-Breguet on an initiative basis. According to the firm's specialists, it can be used to gain air superiority and strike at ground targets.
Aerodynamically, the aircraft is somewhat similar to the Mirage 2000 fighter, differs from it in the presence of front aerodynamic surfaces (made according to the "canard" design) and the installation of two M53-5 engines. The fuel capacity of the Mirage 4000 is about 3 times that of the Mirage 2000. In addition, it can carry up to three external tanks with a capacity of 2500 liters under the wing and fuselage. The aircraft is equipped with RDM radar, which is subsequently supposed to be replaced by a more advanced RDI station.
The built-in armament consists of two 30-mm Defa cannons. The options for suspended weapons, placed on 11 nodes under the fuselage and wing consoles, are as follows: two medium-range missile launchers and two to eight air-to-air missile launchers; four air-to-ground missiles; 27 bombs of 250 kg caliber or concrete-piercing bombs "Durendal"; 18 Beluga cluster bombs; 14 guided bombs of 250 kg caliber.
The company undertook the development of the Mirage 4000 aircraft at its own expense, taking into account the potential for deliveries to the foreign market. By mid-1983, one Mirage 4000 prototype was built and is undergoing limited flight testing. According to the firm's specialists, full-scale tests of the aircraft, its onboard equipment and weapons will not be carried out until contracts for the supply of it to interested countries are concluded.
Flight technical characteristics:
Wingspan, m
12.00
Length, m
18.70
Height, m
5.80
Wing area, m2
73.00
Weight, kg
empty
13400
maximum takeoff
32000
Engines
2 TRDDF SNECMA M53-2
Thrust, kgf
2 x 9100
Maximum speed, km / h
2445 (M = 2.2)
Practical range, km
2000
Rate of climb, m / min
18300
Practical ceiling, m
20000
Crew, people
1
Armament:
two 30 mm DEFA cannons.
combat load - 8000 kg at 11 hardpoints
outboard armament options:
2 medium-range missile launchers and 2 - 8 melee air-to-air missile launchers;
4 SD of air-to-ground class;
27 bombs of 250 kg caliber or Durendal concrete-piercing bombs; 18 Beluga cluster bombs;
14 guided bombs of 250 kg caliber.
