Upgraded Mirage 2000D Renove pour l'Armée de l'Air operating with the Military Air Expertise Centre at Mont-de-Marsan.

On January 17, 2021, the upgraded Mirage 2000D Renove arrived at Base 118 Mont-de-Marsan. It arrived from AIA at Clermont-Ferrand after being with Dassault Aviation.

It will operate for up to one year with the DGA and the Military Air Expertise Centre (CEAM). If all goes to plan, they should start upgrading 55 aircraft, with operational flying commencing in 2022.

The main features of the mid-life upgrade programme will be an air-to-ground gun and the possibility of carrying Mica infrared self-protection air-to-air missiles, along with a centralised attack and navigation system.

This will eliminate technical obsolescence and extend the service life to 2030. 

It will also allow the 2000D to fulfil missions that do not require Rafales' capabilities and lower operating costs.

These images were taken during the recent Trident Atlantic 21 exercise.

As can be seen, the aircraft involved is 639 3-JJ of EC 02.003/SPA67 "Cicogne de Navarre."

Happy Days!

TR1A/U-2R operations at RAF Alconbury in the late 80's early 90's.

In 1983, the USAF's 9th Reconnaissance Wing arrived at RAF Alconbury with its TR-1As (Tactical Reconnaissance), formerly known as U-2s. 

By October 1993, they had been redesignated as U-2Rs

In 1995, the USAF relocated the Dragon Lady South to RAF Fairford. With the onset of the Bosnian War, they moved it even further South in 1996 to the Istres airbase in southern France, allowing for more time over the target. 

Here are some of the images captured during that Alconbury era. 

 80-1065 TR-1B training aircraft arriving at RAF Alconbury was undoubtedly the highlight of my trip.

This airframe was the second of two airframes delivered to the Air Force in 1983. Their serial numbers are 80-1064 and 80-1065, as seen here in May '83.

How long was it deployed to RAF Alconbury?

By August 1995, 80-1065 had been redesignated to a U-2S.

 

80-1092 TR-1A preparing to depart RAF Alconbury.

68-10339, which was used in the US Navy's EPX trials in the early 1970s, was prepared for departure on a mission from RAF Alconbury. It then passed to the 100 SRW in early 1992 and subsequently to the 9SRW in 1976.

Sadly, 68-10339 crashed in December 1993 with the pilot's loss during a training flight at Beale Air Force Base. Sad times for all concerned.

Great memories of past times.

Happy days!