The French Air Force just retired its last Mirage 2000 fighter jet in favor the the Rafale, Dassault's most modern fighter. The Mirage 2000 began to be designed in the 70s and entered service in the French Air Force during the 80s. It was designed, back then, to replace the Mirage III, a Delta wing fighter that Dassault designed in the 50s. Gone also are the Mirage F-1 and the Mirage IV.
I will translate in French, for those who live in France.
L'Armee de l'Air vient de retirer son dernier Mirage 2000, qui est remplace par le Rafale, le chasseur de Dassault le plus moderne. C'est dans le courant des annees 70 qu'a commance la conception du Mirage 2000. Il est entre en service dans l'Armee de l'Air dans les annees 80. Il a ete concu, a l'epoque, pour remplacer le Mirage III, un avion de chasse a aile Delta que Dassault a concu dans les annees 50. Retires de service egalement sont le Mirage F-1 et le Mirage IV.
Voici une video, malheureusement elle n'es pas sous titree en Anglais. Sorry, French only, no English subtitles. What the pilot is saying is this is the aircraft he flew when he graduated from the Air Force Academy in France, first supersonic aircraft for him...first everything. And another is saying..."now the Rafales are coming".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjUIP-wYMzk
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Re: France retires last Mirage 2000
I'll note that only the 2000C is being retired at the moment. The 2000-5 and 2000D (along with the remaining Bs) will soldier on for a while longer.
That silver livery looks really nice.
That silver livery looks really nice.
Re: France retires last Mirage 2000
Francoflier wrote:I'll note that only the 2000C is being retired at the moment. The 2000-5 and 2000D (along with the remaining Bs) will soldier on for a while longer.
That silver livery looks really nice.
Makes sense, obviously the strike aircraft in use and the -5 is still a decent AD aircraft too.
Re: France retires last Mirage 2000
It's not just the aircraft but the squadron (Fighter Squadron 2/5 Île-de-France) is also being inactivated.
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