Cyril B From France, joined Jun 2001, 396 posts, RR: 3 Posted (11 years 7 months 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 969 times:
It seems that some C160 Transall and a squadron of Mirage IV-P spyplanes are already in operations in Afghanistan, along with the "Bougainville" spy-ship (specialized in electromagnetic spying).
Reuters news:
France has beefed up its military involvement in the U.S.-led conflict with Afghanistan by contributing spy planes and more ships, French President Jacques Chirac said on Thursday.
``France has recently strongly reinforced its capacity to gather intelligence by deploying new naval and particularly aerial means,'' Chirac said during a visit to an airbase (Istres) in southern France.
``This deployment will allow us to contribute in an effective manner to operations in Afghanistan to eradicate terrorist networks and those that support them,'' he added.
The source said French reconnaissance and supply planes were operational and had already completed missions in the war zone.
The Paris-based International Herald Tribune on Saturday cited French and U.S. officials as saying Washington had requested French Mirage IV-P warplanes, fitted with ultra-sophisticated cameras to boost U.S. intelligence data.
Chirac repeated that France was in principle ready to join special operations ``when the time comes.''
France has so far provided one refueling ship and one frigate supporting the U.S. navy in the Indian Ocean, along with military bases and an unknown number of intelligence agents on the ground in Afghanistan. It has also opened up French airspace.
Steman From Germany, joined Aug 2000, 1275 posts, RR: 8 Reply 1, posted (11 years 7 months 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 763 times:
This is an answer to people thinking that France is not an active member of NATO.
Italy too offered its participation and is waiting for a specific request by the USA. In the meantime we made available some Tornados, AA frigates, our only aircraft carrier and armoured vehicles. But in a first moment it is more probable that Italian Armed Forces will replace US Forces implied in the former Yugoslavia allowing them to be deployed in Afghanistan. As Italy is already the second Nation in terms of military presence in the Balkans, it will be a big effort.
I hope our allies will appreciate it.
Steman From Germany, joined Aug 2000, 1275 posts, RR: 8 Reply 3, posted (11 years 7 months 22 hours ago) and read 720 times:
The Mirage IV-P is the strategic recoinnasance version of the M.IV supersonic strategic bomber.
It should have provision for electro-optic sensors in a semirecessed pod in the bomb bay.
It can reach speeds in excess of Mach 2 and should have a range of 4000Km. It was developed in the early '60s by Dassault when DeGaulle's France decided to have an autonomous nuclear force, later deploying out of Nato. It is basically a Mirage III with double size and two SNECNA ATAR 9C engines (or are them 9K-50?), two seater with a downlooking radar in the ventral fuselage just aft of the cockpit while the nose houses an air-refuelling probe.
Originally designed to carry free fall atomic bombs (only one in a semi recessed ventral position) it has been upgraded to launch ASMP nuclear short range missiles.
I don't think there are any longer M.IV in service as nuke bombers but France uses some as recce like the IV-P.
Gregoire From France, joined Sep 2007, 0 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (11 years 7 months 21 hours ago) and read 717 times:
It is easy you take a Mirage IV a nuclear bomber, you convert it to carry a ASMP nuclear missile. you then convert it to carry a recce pod and you have a Mirage IV p
more seriously here are a couple of info on the plane.
. First fly : 17.06.1959 (Mirage IVA)
. service : 01.05.1986
. dimension : 11,84 m * 23,32 m * 5,42 m
. Weight empty : 15 t
. Maximun weight : 33 t
. motors : 2 x Atar 9K14 SNECMA 2 x (4,7 t , 6,7 t with AB)
. Max speed : Mach 2,2
. Ceiling (operational) : 22000 m
Recce system crew 2
Gregoire From France, joined Sep 2007, 0 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (11 years 7 months 21 hours ago) and read 718 times:
you are right there are no more nuclear (or any kind of weapon) armed IVp in service they have been converted for strategic reece missio. now the mirage being a fighter bomber no it is a bomber a light nuclear bomber but a bomber. the mirage can not do any king of fighting nor strafing or anything but dropping a nuclear bomb in term of size. it is a bit more than a 2 reactor mirage III it is for a plane of that look hudge
23 metter long in term of size that put it betwen the the US F105 (19m) and the B58 (29m) longer that a F111 (that was nothing but a bomber) it's longer than a B17 or a cambera even if shorter than a V bomber and it definitively is/was a bomber
FlyHigh@Tom From India, joined Sep 2001, 342 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (11 years 7 months 20 hours ago) and read 716 times:
Thanks Gregoire,
Est ce que La Mirage IV est suellement une bomber? (i hope my french is understandable , i learnt it for abt 2 years during my schooling(8 years back))
Translated in english:
Is the Mirage IV purely a bomber only?
First flight in 1959!!! Man my head is reeling...this a/c has been around for 40+ years now. Is there a replacement yet for this in the Mirage inventory?
Gregoire From France, joined Sep 2007, 0 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (11 years 7 months 20 hours ago) and read 715 times:
I was purely a nuclear bomber (and recco) there are no replacement (sattelite and drone) and the day she will go I will cry (I have personal link with that plane)it should be flying up to 2005 but maybe if there are still some around (about 7 in inventory and a lot more to supply spare)
GDB From United Kingdom, joined May 2001, 12715 posts, RR: 80 Reply 9, posted (11 years 7 months 16 hours ago) and read 717 times:
Apparently, when the two-seat Rafale strike version comes on line in a few years, and a multi-sensor recce pod to equip it, the IVA's will be replaced.
G-KIRAN From United Kingdom, joined Jun 2000, 736 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (11 years 6 months 3 weeks 5 days 17 hours ago) and read 702 times:
Any chance of the French being really commited in terms of sending in troops,ships and further air support instead of the odd bomber?
VisageFAF will kick the Talibans so bad they'll became a part of Jurassic part.
Yeah right!Their already in the Jurassic period.So are you going to blow them all the way back to the Trassic period or maybe all the way back to Genesis? If the USAF cant flush out Bin Laden I dont see how the FAF will do the job,as the could not even help monitor the no fly zone over Iraq with the USAF and RAF.Whats more if the French go into Afghanistan with your attitude it will be Dien Bien Phu all over again.
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From France, joined Jun 2001, 396 posts, 
From Germany, joined Aug 2000, 1275 posts, 
From India, joined Sep 2001, 342 posts, 
, i learnt it for abt 2 years during my schooling(8 years back))
From United Kingdom, joined May 2001, 12715 posts, 
From , joined Dec 1969, posts, 
From Portugal, joined Feb 2006, 0 posts, 
If the USAF cant flush out Bin Laden I dont see how the FAF will do the job,as the could not even help monitor the no fly zone over Iraq with the USAF and RAF.Whats more if the French go into Afghanistan with your attitude it will be Dien Bien Phu all over again.
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