Fighter Jet Comparison ToolCompare 25+ military fighter aircraft head to head!

Dassault Mirage 2000 vs. T-38 Talon

vs.
Compare

Mirage 2000

vs.

T-38

Role
Mulitrole fighterAdvanced Trainer
Generation
4th generationNo generation
National Origin
FranceUnited States
Manufacturer
DassaultNorthrop
Price (USD)
$30 Million$1 Million
Primary Users
French Air and Space ForceUS Air Force
First Flight
19781959
Last Production Year
20071972
# Units Built
6011,189
Status
In ServiceIn Service
Seats
12
Length
14 m47 ft
14 m46 ft
Wingspan
9 m30 ft
7 m25 ft
Wing Area
41 m²441 ft²
16 m²172 ft²
Height
5 m17 ft
3 m12 ft
Empty Weight
7,498 kg16,530 lbs
3,266 kg7,200 lbs
Gross Weight
13,798 kg30,420 lbs
5,361 kg11,820 lbs
MTOW
17,463 kg38,500 lbs
5,484 kg12,090 lbs
Fuel Capacity
2,812 kg6,200 lbs
1,715 kg3,780 lbs
Number of Engines
12
Engine Type
TurbofanTurbojet
Engine Manufacturer
SnecmaGeneral Electric
Engine Model
M53-P2J85-5A
Dry Thrust
64 kN14,500 lbs
9 kN2,050 lbs
Thrust w/ Afterburner
95 kN21,400 lbf
13 kN2,900 lbf
Max Thrust
95 kN21,400 lbf
26 kN5,800 lbf
Max Speed (Mach)
Mach 2.20Mach 1.30
Top Speed
2,337 km/h1,452 mph
1,381 km/h858 mph
Range
1,556 km840 nm
2,111 km1,140 nm
Rate of Climb
285 m/s56,100 ft/min
168 m/s33,000 ft/min
Ceiling
18,288 m60,000 ft
15,240 m50,000 ft
G Limit
9 g7 g

What Are the Differences Between the Dassault Mirage 2000 and T-38 Talon

Dassault Mirage 2000 vs T-38 Talon Size Comparison

  • At 14.40 meters, the Dassault Mirage 2000 is 0.30 meters longer than the T-38 Talon.
  • With a wingspan of 9.10 meters, the Dassault Mirage 2000 is 1.40 meters wider from wingtip to wingtip.
  • The wing area of the Dassault Mirage 2000 is 1.30 meters bigger than that of the T-38 Talon’s 3.90 meters.

Dassault Mirage 2000 vs T-38 Talon Price

  • The Dassault Mirage 2000 is more expensive than the T-38 Talon, with a unit cost of approximately 30 million compared to the T-38 Talon’s unit cost of approximately 1 million.

Dassault Mirage 2000 vs T-38 Talon Speed

  • The Dassault Mirage 2000 has a top speed of 1,452 miles per hour, and the T-38 Talon has a top speed of 858 miles per hour. Head to head, this makes the Dassault Mirage 2000 594 miles per hour faster than the T-38 Talon.

About the Dassault Mirage 2000

The Mirage 2000 is a French multirole, single-engine fourth-generation jet fighter manufactured by Dassault Aviation. Introduced in 1984, it was designed as a lightweight fighter with a focus on simplicity, reliability, and versatility, drawing from the success of its predecessors in the Mirage series. The Mirage 2000 has been employed by several air forces around the world and has proven itself in various international conflicts.

Production History: Development of the Mirage 2000 started in the late 1970s as a project to create a versatile platform that could meet operational requirements without the complexity and cost of some contemporary fighters. The aircraft entered operational service in 1984 with the French Air Force, and over its production lifespan, more than 600 units were built across several variants, including air superiority, ground-attack, and reconnaissance models.

Design Features: The Mirage 2000 features a delta wing design, which contributes to its high maneuverability and allows for a wide range of airspeeds and altitudes. Powered by a single SNECMA M53 turbofan engine, it can achieve supersonic speeds without afterburners. The fighter is equipped with advanced avionics, including radar, electronic warfare systems, and a comprehensive weapons suite.

Operational History: The Mirage 2000 has seen combat in numerous conflicts, including the Gulf War, the Kosovo War, and operations in Afghanistan and Libya. Its performance in air-to-air combat and precision ground-attack missions has validated its design philosophy, emphasizing ease of maintenance, operational flexibility, and combat effectiveness.

Comparison with Similar Models

Mirage 2000 vs. F-16 Fighting Falcon

Agility and Engine Power: Both aircraft are praised for their agility in the air, with the Mirage 2000's delta wing offering excellent maneuverability at high speeds. The F-16 has a slight edge in engine thrust-to-weight ratio, providing rapid acceleration and climb rates.

Avionics and Weapon Systems: The F-16 has seen numerous updates to its avionics and weapon systems, keeping it competitive with newer aircraft models. The Mirage 2000 has also been upgraded over time, particularly in its radar and missile capabilities, maintaining its effectiveness in modern combat scenarios.

Mirage 2000 vs. MiG-29

Design Philosophy: The Mirage 2000 and the MiG-29 were developed around the same time, with each aircraft reflecting a different design philosophy. The Mirage 2000 focuses on simplicity and versatility, while the MiG-29 is designed for superior air superiority with its robust airframe and powerful engines.

Operational Flexibility: While the MiG-29 excels in air combat with its high maneuverability and powerful radar, the Mirage 2000 offers greater versatility with its multirole capabilities, allowing for effective air-to-air and air-to-ground operations.

About the T-38 Talon

The T-38 Talon is a twin-engine, high-altitude, supersonic jet trainer used primarily by the United States Air Force for pilot training. Developed by Northrop Corporation in the late 1950s, it was the first supersonic training aircraft in the world and has been instrumental in preparing generations of military aviators for fighter and bomber missions.

Production History: The T-38 was introduced in 1961, with production running until 1972. Over this period, more than 1,100 units were produced. The aircraft was designed to offer a cost-effective, high-performance training solution, capable of simulating the flight characteristics of much larger and more expensive fighter jets. It has undergone various upgrades over its service life to enhance its avionics, safety features, and overall performance, ensuring its continued relevance in pilot training.

Design Features: Featuring a sleek, lightweight design, the T-38 can achieve Mach 1.3 thanks to its twin General Electric J85 turbojet engines. Its tandem-seat configuration allows an instructor and a student to be seated in line, with the student pilot typically in the front seat. The T-38's design emphasizes ease of control and stability at supersonic speeds, making it an ideal platform for transitioning pilots to more advanced aircraft.

Operational History: The T-38 has been used extensively for advanced pilot training, including undergraduate pilot training, pilot instructor training, and as a companion trainer for various frontline fighter and bomber aircraft. It has also served in non-training roles, such as a chase aircraft for research and development programs. Its operational history is marked by its adaptability, having been deployed in numerous bases across the United States and abroad.

Comparison with Similar Models:

T-38 Talon vs. Hawk T1

Training Philosophy: Both the T-38 and the Hawk T1 are used for advanced pilot training, but the T-38 is specifically tailored for preparing pilots for high-speed jet operations, emphasizing supersonic flight training.

Technological and Performance Aspects: The T-38's design focuses on simplicity and performance, offering a straightforward, no-frills approach to supersonic training. The Hawk T1, by comparison, includes more modern avionics and can be equipped with weapons for combat training missions.

T-38 Talon vs. Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet

Design Intent and Usage: The T-38 was developed primarily as a trainer with a focus on high-altitude, supersonic flight characteristics. The Alpha Jet, a Franco-German collaboration, was designed to fulfill both training and light attack roles, making it more versatile in terms of operational deployment.

Performance Characteristics: While the Alpha Jet offers a good balance between subsonic and supersonic performance and has seen use as a light attack aircraft, the T-38 specializes in preparing pilots for the demands of flying high-performance, supersonic jets, focusing on the skills needed for air superiority missions.

Share:
Values shown may not be 100% accurate, as some metrics are averages or only represent certain production years and configurations. Engine specs are based on the best options available.

Related Fighter Jet Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Learn more about the WebFlite Aircraft Comparison Tool.

What is this comparison tool?

WebFlite’s Aircraft Comparison Tool allows users to contrast the specifications of over 100 airliner, freighter, and fighter jet models. The head-to-head comparisons include data related to size, weight, capacity, performance, and much more! Whether you want to compare similar aircraft, old vs new, big vs small - you can find it here at WebFlite!

How do you use this tool?

The Aircraft Comparison Tool is extremely easy to use! First, select your type of aircraft - Airliners, Freighters, or Fighter Jets. When the page reloads, select an aircraft from each of the two drop-down menus below the aircraft illustrations, and then click the blue “Compare” button. The page will automatically update and display those two aircraft and their specs! You can start a new comparison by changing either one or both aircraft from the drop-downs, and clicking “Compare” again. You can also change the aircraft type at the top of the page.

Where does the aircraft data come from?

The data for these aircraft has been scraped from a few sources, including manufacturer websites, government databases, and Wikipedia. While the data is fairly accurate, we cannot guarantee it all to be 100% exact. This is mainly due to discrepancies between sub-models and configurations. Most aircraft in this comparison tool will include what variant its data is based off of.

What are the most popular aircraft comparisons?
Can I share this tool or a comparison?

Yes! Please feel free to share this tool or any specific aircraft comparison with friends, family, or on social media! You may also share on your own website, but please include a link to the tool! We appreciate any support with helping us grow!

webflite-logoWebFlite
2023 WebFlite. All rights reserved.