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Dassault Mirage 2000-5 (ROCAF)

In 1992, the Republic of China Air Force ordered 48 single-seat Mirage 2000-5EI interceptors and 12 Mirage 2000-5DI trainers, with introduction of the first squadron in 1997 and the last fighters delivered in 1999. The Taiwanese ordered a set of ASTAC electronic intelligence (ELINT) pods for their Mirages. This version of Mirage 2000-5 had the mid-air refuel ability as well as its ground attack ability deleted.

France announced in 1992 that it would offer Mirage 2000-5 fighters to Taiwan. The number of aircraft considered had been rumoured to be 120, but the deal was finalized as 60 aircraft (48 single-seat 2000-5EIs and 12 two-seat 2000-5DIs) on November 17 of the same year. This marks the first ROCAF purchase of French fighters since the arrival of 24 Dewoitine D.510C piston-engine monoplanes in 1937. The program was given the codename "Fei Lung" (Flying Dragon).

The ROCAF also obtained 960 MICA medium-range and 480 Magic II short-range air-to-air missiles from Matra. The former provides the Mirage with the BVR capability needed for its role as front-line interceptor. A number of centerline twin gun pods with DEFA 554 cannons were also acquired and fitted on the two-seaters, as they do not have an internal gun armament. Other support equipment, such as auxiliary fuel tanks, helmets, and G-suits, have also been procured.

The first batch of ROCAF Mirage 2000-5s, consisting of five aircraft, arrived at Hualien Harbor on the east coast of Taiwan by sea on 1997-05-06. After being unloaded, they were towed to Hualien AB, where they were unpacked and checked, and then flown to Hsinchu AB. Subsequent deliveries also followed the same procedure. The last ROCAF Mirage 2000-5 was delivered in an official ceremony on 1998-11-26.

All Mirage 2000-5s are operated by the 499th TFW at Hsinchu. The first unit to convert to the type, the 41st TFS, was commissioned on 1997-12-01. Subsequently the 42nd TFS was commissioned on 1998-11-26. The 499th TFW achieved initial operating capability (IOC) status on 2001-05-10, and the 48th TFS was commissioned on the same day.

On 2004-11-01, the 41st and 42nd TFSs were upgraded to the "Tactical Fighter Group" status, while the 48th TFS became the 48th Training Group, in the largest restructure undertaken by the ROCAF since 1999. At the same time, the original 11th TFG went into history.


幻象2000-5戰鬥機是1990年代，法國為了彌補Rafale疾風式戰鬥機服役前的戰力空缺，而特別開發設計製造的機型，藉以延續幻象2000戰鬥機有效服役至下個世紀，這也是台灣空軍購買的幻象改良型機型，幻象2000-5戰鬥機的設計重點首重空優和攔截，台灣空軍主要用於高空攔截作戰的主力，以便戰時有效執行高空攔截任務，其與另外兩型二代戰機F-16戰隼式戰鬥機及F-CK-1（IDF經國號戰鬥機）成功的構成台灣高空、中空、低空的空防鐵三角。。

幻象2000-5戰鬥機的機身設計主要採用單發動機配置、大型三角低單翼（翼前緣後掠58°）、無水平尾翼、單垂直尾翼設計，進氣口位於機身兩側。由於使用線傳飛控（Fly-by-Wire）系統，幻象2000-5戰鬥機的主翼因此加裝有前緣襟翼，以及在進氣道外側加裝一對小片短翼，使幻象2000-5戰鬥機擺脫了傳統三角翼戰鬥機展弦比太低的缺點，解決了傳統三角翼設計在高攻角飛行時所產生的升力問題，但仍保有三角翼戰鬥機爬升快、慢速性能佳的空中作戰優點。

幻象2000-5戰鬥機裝有4具大型多功能顯示器（MFD）及1具廣角抬頭顯示器（HUD），座艙內部設計極為先進。而RDY雷達採用許多最先進的電子技術，具有俯視及仰視作戰能力，搜索範圍也因此大為增加（約 150 km），RDY雷達同時擁有多種對空和對地作戰的作戰模式，可同時追蹤8個入侵目標，並一次發射4枚MICA主動中程空對空飛彈，攻擊其中4個最具威脅性的目標，整體作戰性能極佳。

Data from Wikipedia