Dassault Mirage 2000C (17 / 5-OZ) from the French Air Force at the 46th International Paris Air Show (SIAE) 2005, Le Bourget (France)
The Dassault Mirage 2000 is a French multirole, single-engine fourth-generation jet fighter manufactured by Dassault Aviation. It was designed in the late 1970s as a lightweight fighter based on the Mirage III for the French Air Force (Armée de l'Air). The Mirage 2000 evolved into a multirole aircraft with several variants developed, with sales to a number of nations. Over 600 aircraft were built and it has been in service with nine nations. The first Mirage 2000 to go into service was the single-seat Mirage 2000C interceptor, C stands for Chasseur (Fighter) variant. The first production Mirage 2000C flew in November 1982 and deliveries began in 1983. The first operational squadron was formed in 1984, the 50th anniversary of the French Air Force. A total of 124 Mirage-2000Cs were obtained by the French Air Force.