Mirage 2000 vs F-16 Fighting Falcon
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 |