Comparison
Flight data supplied by Dassault
Airfield Operational Capability with two Infrared Missiles @ Sea Level Minimum Take-off Distance Minimum Landing Distance Mirage 2000 1,650 ft. (503m) 2,000 ft. (610m) F16 C 1,500 ft. (457m) 3,000 ft. (914m) F18 C 1,700 ft. (518m) 2,500 ft. (762m)
Flight Envelope Mirage 2000 57,500 ft. (17,526m) F16 C 49,500 ft. (15,088m) F 18C 54,500 ft. (16,612m) @ Mach 1,4
Two Infrared Missiles - 50% Internal Fuel - Max Power
Ceiling @ Mach 1,8
Maximum Mach No. @ 36,000 ft (10,973m) Mirage 2000 2,2 F16 C 1,9 F18 C 1,7+
Acceleration from Mach 0.9 @ 36,000 ft. Mach reached after 2 minutes Mach reached after 3 minutes Mirage 2000 1,85 2,17 F16 C 1,75 1,86 F18 C 1,62 1,7+
Two Infrared Missiles - 50% Internal Fuel - Max Power
Combat Manoeuvrability Mach 0.7 Mach 0.9 Mach 1.2 Mach 1.5 °/sec °/sec °/sec °/sec Mirage 2000 22 17,5 13 10.5 F16 C 18 17.5 13 10.5 F18 C 18.5 14.5 11 8.5
Instantaneous turn rate @ 15,000 ft. (4,572m) - Two IR Missiles - 50% Int. Fuel
Combat Fuel Consumption @ Max. Power Mach 0.5 sea level Mach 0.8 15,000 ft Mach1.4 36,000ft 4,572 m 10,973 m kg/min kg/min kg/min Mirage 2000 360 275 230 F16 C 415 310 260 F18 C 495 380 300
Structural Limits Mirage 2000 9g (ultimate 13.5g) F16 C 9g F18 C 7.5g (later 9g)
Air Superiority Mission - Radius of Action Mirage 2000 2 Magic +4 MICA +3 tanks 780 nm F16 C 2 AIM9 +4 AMRAAM +3 tanks 710 nm F18 C 2 AIM9 +4 AMRAAM +3 tanks 725 nm
Two IR Missiles + Four BVR Missiles + Maximum Tanks
Combat - 5 Min. @ Max Power - 30,000ft. (9144m) - Mach 0.8
Tanks dropped prior to combat - Self defence Missiles retained.
Air Patrol Loitre time Mirage 2000 150 minutes F16 C 145 minutes F18 C 140 minutes
Two IR Missiles + Four BVR Missiles + Maximum Tanks
Operational Loitre @ 93 miles (150 km) - 25,000 ft. (7,620m) - Mach 0.8
Tanks and Missiles retained
Air to Ground Mission Radius of Action Mirage 2000 *eight Mk 82 +two tanks 640 nm F16 C eight Mk 82 +one tank 410 nm F18 C eight Mk 82 +one tank 460 nm
Hi-Lo-Lo-Hi with 4000 lb (1,814 kg) bomb load + Maximum tanks.
50 nm dash to and from the target @ 500 ft. (152m)and 550 knots.
Tanks dropped when empty. Missiles retained.
* Dassault have been somewhat selective with the stated weapon load. If the eight Mk 82
bombs were replaced by two Mk 84(2000 lb) bombs things look quite different. The Mirage 2000 only has three heavy hardpoints and carrying two Mk 84 bombs would mean carrying only
one external fuel tank. An enlarged centreline fuel tank with a 2200 litre capacity would be of great benefit.
Unfortunately Dassault do not specify which F 16 they are referring to. A Block 30 model is
considerably lighter than a late model Block 50 with an empty weight of 8853 kg. The Dash 5 has an empty weight of approximately 7900 kg.