Upgraded Mirage 2000D Renove pour l'Armée de l'Air

January 17th 2021, witnessed the arrival at Base 118 Mont-de-Marsan of the upgraded Mirage 2000D Renove. 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, appearing in operational flying 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.

It was during the recent Trident Atlantic 21 exercise that these images were taken.

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, we saw the arrival of the USAF's 9th reconnaissance wing at RAF Alconbury with their TR-1As (Tactical reconnaissance), formerly known as U-2s. 

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

In 1995, the USAF moved the Dragon Lady South to RAF Fairford, and with the Bosnian war, they moved them even further South in 1996 to the Istres airbase in Southern France, allowing them more time over 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 airforce in 1983. Their serials are 80-1064 and seen here 80-1065 shown in the May of '83.

How long was it deployed to RAF Alconbury?

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

 

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

68-10339 Preparing for a mission departure from RAF Alconbury was the airframe used in the US Navy's EPX trails in the early seventies, passing to the 100 SRW in early 1992 and then the 9SRW in 1976.

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

Great memories of past times.

Happy days!