Mosamania
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Discussion based threads are minimal in this forum I have noticed. So I thought I might kick start a knew trend because discussions on military related subjects is always a great fun to be had and a great knowledge source as well.
Mirage 4000
General characteristics
Crew: 1
Length: 18.70 m (61 ft 4 in)
Wingspan: 12.00 m (39 ft 4 in)
Height: 5.80 m (19 ft 0 in)
Wing area: 73.0 m² (785 ft²)
Empty weight: 13,000 kg (29,000 lb)
Powerplant: 2 × SNECMA M53-2 afterburning turbofans, 95 kN (22,000 lbf) each
Performance
Maximum speed: 2,445 km/h (1,320 kn, 1,519 mph)
Range: 2,000 km (1,100 NM, 1,200 mi)
Service ceiling: 20,000 m (66,000 ft)
F-15
General characteristics
Crew: 1: pilot
Length: 63 ft 9 in (19.43 m)
Wingspan: 42 ft 10 in (13.05 m)
Height: 18 ft 6 in (5.63 m)
Wing area: 608 ft² (56.5 m²)
Airfoil: NACA 64A006.6 root, NACA 64A203 tip
Empty weight: 28,000 lb (12,700 kg)
Loaded weight: 44,500 lb (20,200 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 68,000 lb (30,845 kg)
Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney F100-100 or −220 afterburning turbofans
Dry thrust: 17,450 lbf (77.62 kN) each
Thrust with afterburner: 25,000 lbf for −220 (111.2 kN for −220) each
Fuel capacity: 13,455 lb (6,100 kg) internal[93]
Performance
Maximum speed:
High altitude: Mach 2.5+ (1,650+ mph, 2,665+ km/h)
Low altitude: Mach 1.2 (900 mph, 1,450 km/h)
Combat radius: 1,061 nmi (1,222 mi, 1,967 km) for interdiction mission
Ferry range: 3,450 mi (3,000 nmi, 5,550 km) with conformal fuel tanks and three external fuel tanks
Service ceiling: 65,000 ft (20,000 m)
Rate of climb: >50,000 ft/min (254 m/s)
Wing loading: 73.1 lb/ft² (358 kg/m²)
Thrust/weight: 1.12 (−220)
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Once upon a time in the 1980s. Saudi Arabia was interested in two jets to serve as the frontline air superiority fighter. Those two were the French Mirage 4000 and the American F-15 Eagle.
After shoves tugs and hugs the choice in the end was in favor of the F-15 but lately I have been researching and reading left and right about the Mirage 4000 and I wonder if the right choice have been made at that time.
So do you believe the RSAF have made a right choice of acquiring the F-15 instead of the Mirage 4000?? Note at the time the Morage was offered with ToT and a certain degree of joint production but Saudi Arabia had to fund the entire project in return. However the F-15 was ready for delivery at the time.
Mirage 4000 and The F-15
Mirage 4000
![Mirage_4000_01.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aircraftinformation.info%2FImages%2FMirage_4000_01.jpg&hash=62574c6d81d5a920256cc195d2f484d4)
General characteristics
Crew: 1
Length: 18.70 m (61 ft 4 in)
Wingspan: 12.00 m (39 ft 4 in)
Height: 5.80 m (19 ft 0 in)
Wing area: 73.0 m² (785 ft²)
Empty weight: 13,000 kg (29,000 lb)
Powerplant: 2 × SNECMA M53-2 afterburning turbofans, 95 kN (22,000 lbf) each
Performance
Maximum speed: 2,445 km/h (1,320 kn, 1,519 mph)
Range: 2,000 km (1,100 NM, 1,200 mi)
Service ceiling: 20,000 m (66,000 ft)
F-15
![f15_eagle.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.military-today.com%2Faircraft%2Ff15_eagle.jpg&hash=c3d6256e6909a66096ff3655d9567329)
General characteristics
Crew: 1: pilot
Length: 63 ft 9 in (19.43 m)
Wingspan: 42 ft 10 in (13.05 m)
Height: 18 ft 6 in (5.63 m)
Wing area: 608 ft² (56.5 m²)
Airfoil: NACA 64A006.6 root, NACA 64A203 tip
Empty weight: 28,000 lb (12,700 kg)
Loaded weight: 44,500 lb (20,200 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 68,000 lb (30,845 kg)
Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney F100-100 or −220 afterburning turbofans
Dry thrust: 17,450 lbf (77.62 kN) each
Thrust with afterburner: 25,000 lbf for −220 (111.2 kN for −220) each
Fuel capacity: 13,455 lb (6,100 kg) internal[93]
Performance
Maximum speed:
High altitude: Mach 2.5+ (1,650+ mph, 2,665+ km/h)
Low altitude: Mach 1.2 (900 mph, 1,450 km/h)
Combat radius: 1,061 nmi (1,222 mi, 1,967 km) for interdiction mission
Ferry range: 3,450 mi (3,000 nmi, 5,550 km) with conformal fuel tanks and three external fuel tanks
Service ceiling: 65,000 ft (20,000 m)
Rate of climb: >50,000 ft/min (254 m/s)
Wing loading: 73.1 lb/ft² (358 kg/m²)
Thrust/weight: 1.12 (−220)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Once upon a time in the 1980s. Saudi Arabia was interested in two jets to serve as the frontline air superiority fighter. Those two were the French Mirage 4000 and the American F-15 Eagle.
After shoves tugs and hugs the choice in the end was in favor of the F-15 but lately I have been researching and reading left and right about the Mirage 4000 and I wonder if the right choice have been made at that time.
So do you believe the RSAF have made a right choice of acquiring the F-15 instead of the Mirage 4000?? Note at the time the Morage was offered with ToT and a certain degree of joint production but Saudi Arabia had to fund the entire project in return. However the F-15 was ready for delivery at the time.