The Mirage 2000-5Ei is an air superiority fighter for the Chinese tech tree. Due to the Chinese purchase of the Su-27 in 1992, Taiwan decided to order new-gen fighters capable of defending their country’s airspace. The choice fell on the French Mirage 2000 thanks to its BVR capability needed for its role as a frontline interceptor. This Taiwanese version of the Mirage 2000-5F primarily differs in its suspended armament: this Mirage can only be fitted with MICA-EM and Magic 2 missiles, making it a pure air-to-air fighter.
Flight Performance
The flight performance of this Taiwanese Mirage is outstanding, it can perform well at sea level easily reaching its IAS limit of 1,512 km/h (Mach 1.22). However, the engine can push even further, so in order to avoid ripping off your wings you should fly higher. At higher altitudes, it outperforms many aircraft unaware of the danger coming upon them.
It’s best to avoid dogfights and utilize your speed, unleashing powerful MICA-EM and allowing you to escape and prepare for another Boom-and-Zoom attack. As a last resort, the Mirage 2000-5Ei can still turn out to be a good dogfighter with its 9,690 kgf of thrust and maintaining its speed in sharp turns.
Besides that, it can perform long-range insertions because of its large fuel capacity and additional 1,300-liter drop tank, this allows you to flank further or stay in the fight for a longer amount of time compared to the preceding J-10A.
It is important to bear in mind that the Mirage 2000 is a delta-wing design:
| Pros | Cons |
| It produces much less relative drag than a normal wing while going supersonic | Although it is superior in supersonic flight, it lacks in subsonic because of having less lift to drag ratio than normal wings |
| It allows you to carry more fuel because of a large root chord, although the wings' relative thickness is low | Large wing area causes more viscous drag for the same amount of lift compared to a normal wing |
| It enables extremely high angles of attack | Although high AoA is very useful, it will cause the aircraft to quickly dump its speed and lose maneuverability so PROCEED WITH CAUTION |
Survivability
In its optimal setting, you can carry 54 flares and 152 chaff which is an ultimate upgrade in comparison to the J-10 and J-11. It features a modern RWR allowing you to better understand the danger within 70 km and MAW that relieves pilots from having to focus on deploying countermeasures.
When it comes to information, Mirage-2000-5Ei features a Thales RDY radar with a 150 km range and search cone of 120°x10°. It also provides the pilot intel about tracked target speed and ranges to better understand your surroundings.
Air-to-Air Capabilities
As mentioned, the Taiwanese Mirage 2000 is only capable of air-to-air attacks, being provided with only FOX-3 and FOX-2 missiles. At first look, it might not be impressive, but the MICA-EM, also featured on its French cousin, proves to have amazing capabilities.
When it comes to its infrared-homing missile, the Magic 2 is incredibly useful in close-range situations or when the target is hitting the deck to dodge radar-guided missiles. It might not be smokeless but it guarantees high turn rate and speed making it one of the best missiles in-game if used properly.
When it comes to guns, it has a twin 30mm DEFA 554 cannon with 250 rounds which is more than enough since you will not be using it that much.
- MICA-EM, an active radar-homing missile manufactured by MBDA France with specifications comparable to the Russian R-77. It’s potential might not come from the range because it is effective at a maximum distance of about 15-20km, but rather its thrust-vectoring and maximum overload of 50 G as well as a Mach 4.0 maximum speed. This allows you to surprise your enemies in a dogfight and deal with targets further away from your flight direction.
- Matra R550 Magic 2, an IR-homing missile was developed along the MICA. It works effectively as a short-range air-to-air missile, capable of pulling even more than its maximum 35Gs shown in specifications. It has a better range than the Russian R-60M. Although it lacks a smokeless motor as found in the AIM-9M, it is much more maneuverable. The Magic 2 is literally a magical piece of weaponry that can dominate during dogfights. When you lock on the target with your HMD and send it, its speed, agility, and IRCCM guarantees you a higher rate of hits than other comparable missiles.
Conclusion
The Mirage 2000-5Ei is a formidable addition to the Chinese tech tree, offering a potent blend of speed, agility, and advanced weaponry. Its exceptional flight performance at both high and low altitudes makes it a deadly boom-and-zoom attacker. The powerful Thales radar and MICA missiles provide a significant advantage in all engagements, while the Magic 2 rounds offer a reliable close-range option. However, the aircraft’s reliance on its speed doesn’t make it impotent during dogfights, with its maneuverability and low speed loss it can solo many aircraft it encounters. Overall, the Mirage is a valuable asset for experienced pilots who can leverage its strengths and avoid its weaknesses. It is a powerful addition to the Chinese lineup, offering a unique and challenging gameplay experience.
