French Air Force - Armée de l'Air Nancy-Ochey Air Base (BA 133) 2007-2009

The two-man crewed Mirage 2000D was developed by Dassault Aviation as a conventional ground attack version of the Mirage 2000 and entered service in 1993. It is a very effective all weather day and night platform combining the latest navigation and targeting systems and able to delivery precision-guided munitions. It’s Thales designed terrain following radar allows the aircraft to fly down to 200 feet (91m) at 691 mph (1,112 km/h). The Mirage 2000 evolved from the very successful Mirage III, the first prototype flew in 1978. A total of over 600 aircraft have been built for nine air forces. Mirage 2000 A total of 315 Mirage 2000 were delivered to the Armée de l'Air (AdlA, French Air Force), of which several variants have been produced; 2000C and upgraded 2000-5F (serials 1 to 124), a single-seat fighter it entered service in 1984. 124 2000C’s were delivered, 37 of which were later updated to 2000-5F standard. 2000B (serials 501 to 530), a two-seat trainer based on the 2000C it entered service in 1983. 2000N (serials 301 to 375), a two-seat nuclear strike based on the 2000B it entered service in 1988, the last one built was in 1993. 2000D (serials 601 to 686), a two-seat conventional strike aircraft, it entered service in 1995.

Mirage 2000D pair just after take-off from Nancy in July 2007. (629 '3-XO' and 659 '3-XR' both of EC03.003 - 3 Escadron de Chasse ‘Ardennes', 1 Escadrille III/3 ‘Hure Barre bleue’).

Nancy-Ochey The French Air Force (Armée de l' Air – AdlA) since 1990s when Wings (Escadres) were disbanded are composed of Squadrons (Escadrons) which in turn are made up of Flights (Escadrilles). The Escadrilles (Esc) have designations which date back to the World War One. Escadrille with a ‘BR’ designation flew Bréguet built aircraft in World War One, ‘C’ flew Caudrons, ‘N’ flew Nieuports, ‘SAL’ flew Salmsons and ‘SPA’ flew SPAD’s. At Nancy - Ochey Air Base 133 (Base Aérienne – BA 133) there are three Fighter Squadrons (Escadron de Chasse – EC); EC01.003 ‘Navarre’, EC02.003 ‘Champagne’ EC03.003 ‘Ardennes’. Since September 2008 a Mirage 2000D crew conversion training unit previously attached to EC02.003 was formed as the 'Centre de Formation des Equipages de Mirage 2000 D' (CFED) and has the designation 00.338. EC01.003 is comprised of three Escadrille, their 15 Mirage 2000D-R2 (the R2 variant can carry the APACHE cruise missile). Since April 2009 carry new base codes in the 133-I? range (previously 3-I?); 1 Esc SPA.95 ‘Oriflamme chargé d'un Martinet’, 2 Esc SPA.153 ‘Gypaéte’ 3 Esc SPA.62 ‘Coq de Combat’. EC02.003 is comprised of three Escadrille, their 15 Mirage 2000D-R1 now carry codes in the 133-J? range (previously 3-J?); 1 Esc SPA.67 ‘Cigogne de Navarre’, 2 Esc SPA.75 ‘Charognard’, 3 Esc SPA.102 ‘Soleil de Rhodes’. EC03.003 is comprised of three Escadrille, their 15 Mirage 2000D-R1 now carry codes in the 133-X? range (previously 3-X?); 1 Esc GC III/3 ‘Hure Barre bleue’, 2 Esc GC III/3 ‘Hure Barre rouge’, 3 Esc BR.44 ‘Sanglier assis ou Hure Barre verte’.

EC03.003 - 3 Escadron de Chasse ‘Ardennes', 1 Escadrille III/3 ‘Hure Barre bleue'.

Left to right: Mirage 2000D (659 '3-XR' x2 and 605 '3-XD').

EC03.003 - 3 Escadron de Chasse ‘Ardennes', 2 Escadrille GC III/3 ‘Hure Barre rouge’.

Left to right: Mirage 2000D (610 '3-XX'). Mirage 2000D (602 '3-XJ') x2

Left to right: Mirage 2000D (616 '3-XH'), Mirage 2000D (616 '133-XH') x2, with the new style codes indicating the home base (Base Aérienne 133 - Nancy-Ochey) at TLP 2009-3 at Florennes in May 2009.

Mirage 2000D trio about to launch. (629 '3-XO' and 659 '3-XR' both of EC03.003 - 3 Escadron de Chasse ‘Ardennes', 1 Escadrille III/3 ‘Hure Barre bleue’ and on the left 649 '3-XY' of EC03.003 - 3 Escadron de Chasse ‘Ardennes', 3 Escadrille BR.44 ‘Sanglier assis ou Hure Barre verte').

EC03.003 - 3 Escadron de Chasse ‘Ardennes', 3 Escadrille BR.44 ‘Sanglier assis ou Hure Barre verte’.

Left to right: Mirage 2000D (649 '3-XY'), Mirage 2000D (661 '3-XI').

EC01.003 - 1 Escadron de Chasse ‘Navarre', 1 Escadrille SPA.95 ‘Oriflamme chargé d'un Martinet’.

Left to right: Mirage 2000D (683 '133-IV') with the new style codes at TLP 2009-3 at Florennes in May 2009. Mirage 2000D (647 '3-IO').

EC01.003 - 1 Escadron de Chasse ‘Navarre', 2 Escadrille SPA.153 ‘Gypaéte’

Left to right: Mirage 2000D (668 '3-IG') x2 in July 2007.

Mirage 2000D (678 '3-JB') while attending TLP 2008-1 at RAF Kinloss in January 2008.

EC02.003 - 2 Escadron de Chasse ‘Champagne', 3 Escadrille SPA.102 ‘Soleil de Rhodes’.

Left to right: Mirage 2000D (615 '3-JY' and 678 '3-JB') while attending TLP 2008-1 at RAF Kinloss in January 2008. Mirage 2000D (615 '3-JF') at Nancy in July 2007.

Left to right: Mirage 2000D (641 '3-JW', 667 '3-JZ' (Fatally crashed on January 9, 2019) and '3-JU') on finals at Nancy in July 2007.