What's this pod/weapon loaded on a M2000C?

[Zaz0]

Hi all

 

I found this photo of a Mirage of the AdA (googling it's registration number 103-LJ it's a 2000C), which carry one strange pod or weapon I cannot identify

 

http://fanairplane.free.fr/affichage2.php?img=8560

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u4V93FGSe8k/TzVxW_pkfxI/AAAAAAAAA8k/ddHaWtgw3u8/s1600/_MG_2097.jpg

 

thanks!

[Gunnergolly]

My guess is that it's a training missile, it can't actually be fired but it has a "live" IR seeker head for practicing.

[mattebubben]

Hi all

 

I found this photo of a Mirage of the AdA (googling it's registration number 103-LJ it's a 2000C), which carry one strange pod or weapon I cannot identify

 

http://fanairplane.free.fr/affichage2.php?img=8560

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u4V93FGSe8k/TzVxW_pkfxI/AAAAAAAAA8k/ddHaWtgw3u8/s1600/_MG_2097.jpg

 

thanks!

 

 

Like Gunny said its the training variant of the Magic II missile.

 

 

This is a close up.

 

 

 

Its a variant that is carried for Practice and training since its both more dangerous and more expensive to carry live missiles during normal training.

 

a Air-Air missile only has a limited amount of flight hours

(being carried on a flying aircraft)

Before it starts to deteriorate and become less reliable.

 

And as such its standard to either dispose of a missile once it has reached the limit of flight hours or to use it in a live fire when it reaches its recommended limit.

 

So using Inert missiles that are not limited in the same way is preferred for training.

 

And they are also used for dogfight training as since they still have seekers they can still lock up a enemy they just cant be fired.

[Zaz0]

Thanks for yours answers ;)

[QuiGon]

And as such its standard to either dispose of a missile once it has reached the limit of flight hours or to use it in a live fire when it reaches its recommended limit.

 

I never understood why weapons (at least A-G weapons) are disposed at all instead of just beeing used for live fire training when they reach their recommended service limit.

[Eddie]

I never understood why weapons (at least A-G weapons) are disposed at all instead of just beeing used for live fire training when they reach their recommended service limit.

 

Because the explosive and/or batteries etc. are life expired, or the airframe itself has reached its stress/fatigue limit and as such there could be unexpected and/or unpredictable consequences if they were used.

 

Some weapons will be returned to the OEM for overhaul, others will be dismantled etc. Generally weapons used for live fire training are those closest to life ex. All down to flight safety etc.

 

It would be nice to get the captive training missiles and a/g stores for the Mirage in DCS.

Edited March 21, 2016 by Eddie

[whaaw]

If you see a blue band around a Weapon its mostly "Inert" = no Explosives

this works for almost every weapon in every Airforce

[QuiGon]

If you see a blue band around a Weapon its mostly "Inert" = no Explosives

this works for almost every weapon in every Airforce

 

Not just in the Air Forces ;)

Edited March 22, 2016 by QuiGon

[Aginor]

I remember the funny light blue DM 58 handgrenades we used during my own military training. So yeah, when you see a military weapon of any kind and it is either blue or has blue stripes on it, it is for training.

 

That doesn't mean it isn't dangerous, but compared to the real thing it is mostly harmless. :)

[mattebubben]

If you see a blue band around a Weapon its mostly "Inert" = no Explosives

this works for almost every weapon in every Airforce

 

The Blue for training is not universal though.

 

For example.

 

In The Swedish Airforce (during the cold war its now changed to be nato standard)

 

The color For Inert weapons was a generally Dark Green.

 

 

 

But for Western / Nato standard Weapons the Blue bands were generally true when it came to inert/training weapons.

 

Im unsure about the color used by eastern nations (Russia / China etc)

[Dahlbeck]

Well, the Swedish convention has long been green for inert munitions and blue for live practise ones. Ie a munition that is not meant to be fired or dropped is green, while for example cheap/safe cannon practise rounds without explosive component (other than propellant) would be blue.

 

Where we have really differed are the blank rounds, that we've had in red, which by NATO standard means tracer.

[Azrayen]

For French missiles:

Orange means dummy totally inert just for PR or to simulate weight, drag and CG of the real thing

Blue means training i.e. with sensor but no engine nor military charge/detonator

Yellow indicates live warhead

Brown indicates live engine

 

For air-to-ground bombs

Blue are training i.e. droppable rounds without military charge

 

I heard that sometimes blue and orange may have been reversed.