Mirage 2000E vs F-16E/F Fighting Falcon BLOCK 60

Comment of Readers (Feel free to Leave a Reply on bottom).

1. Mirage is faster, but it is made as interceptor as response on Soviet MiG-25 and MiG-21 that can fly really fast. Also it has lot weaker engines and acceleration, that means that thrust to weight ratio is low so it lot weaker in close and medium range fight. F-16 is armed with long range AAM missiles while Mirage is not… So F-16 with and upgraded radar in BLOCK 60 version will easilly hit Mirage from long distance… F-16 is for me lot better than Mirage. Era of interceptors was over.

2. Mirage is not fighter, it is interceptor, so nowdays F-16 is lot more better. F-16 can carry lot more weapons, it is multirole fighter, not too modern but better than any interceptor from Cold War. Mirage is maybe better than Soviet MiG-21/25/27, but not better than F-16.

3. Some countries use both airplanes (like Greece), and they all agree that F-16 is better. Falcon is an air superiority fighter and with latest AESA radar upgrade for (Taiwan Air Force) it is more advanced and good as Gripen or MiG-29. Also F-16 thrust/weight is lot better, so it is better in dogfight and maneuverability. I agree that Mirage is an beautiful aircraft, but F-16 have adventage in all areas…except speed…

Flight Cost Per Hour

Overall and BVR ratings

CATEGORY MIRAGE 2000E F-16E/F BLOCK 60 BVR Rating 68% 78% Armament 6.5/10 7.9/10 Technology 6.9/10 9.0/10 Avionics 7.4/10 9.0/10 Maneuverability 7.1/10 7.9/10 Rate of Climb max. 285 m/s – 56k ft/min max. 254 m/s – 50k ft/min Thrust/Weight 0.92 1.11 Service Ceiling 17 km – 55k ft 15 km – 50k ft Speed 2.20 Mach 2.00 Mach Fuel Economy 1.05 km/l – 2.46 NM/gallon 0.91 km/l – 2.13 NM/gallon Unit Cost 28.000.000 USD 35.000.000 USD Overall Rating good very good

BVR (Beyond Visual Range) Ratings

CATEGORY MIRAGE 2000E F-16E/F BLOCK 60 BVR AAM missile MBDA Mica AIM-120 AMRAAM Nation NATO USA Year in 1996 in 1997 Range (mile) 31 45 Range (km) 50 75 Speed (mph) 3020 2640 Speed (km/h) 4900 4248 Radar T-CSF RDY RDM plus AN/APG-80 Radar overall rating good excellent BVR Technology 65% 82% BVR Def. Tech. 69% 77% RCS – Radar Cross Section 1.0-2.5 0.5-1.5

Dogfight (close to medium range fight) Ratings

CATEGORY MIRAGE 2000E F-16E/F BLOCK 60 Cannon 2 x DEFA 554 M61A1 Vulcan Caliber (mm) 30 mm 20 mm Rate of Fire (rpm) 1300 rpm 6000 rpm Muzzle Velocity 815 m/s 1050 m/s Size Point 10%-30% 20% 30% Maneuverability 7.1 7,9 Thrust/Weight Ratio 0,92 1,11 AAM (first) MBDA MICA AIM-7 Sparrow Operational range 0.2 – 50 km 0.2 – 50 km AAM (second) R.550 MAGIC II IRIS-T Operational range 0.3 – 15 km 0.5 – 30 km Dogfight Rating 47% 58%

Size Compare

CATEGORY MIRAGE 2000E F-16E/F BLOCK 60 Length 14.36 m – 47 ft 1 in 15.0 m – 49 ft 4 in Wingspan 9.13 m – 29 ft 0 in 9.45 m – 31 ft 0 in Wing area 40.9 m² – 440 ft² 28.0 m² – 300 sq ft Height 5.19 m – 17 ft 0 in 5.1 m – 16 ft 8 in Weight 7,500 kg – 16,3k lb 10,000 kg – 22,1k lb Power 1 x 95 kN – 21k lbf 1 x 145 kN 32k lbf



