“Delta-break”
Travelling some 100 kilometers north of Athens, one is far away from this busy metropolis but close to all manner of Greek mythology sites including Delphi’s oracle. This rural area, also close to Marathonnas town where the first 42 km marathon run took place, is home to one of the Hellenic major air bases Tanagra. Here the Greek Air Force operate a wing of with Mirage 2000s in the eastern flank of Greece.
HAF M2000EG taking off
Operating the French for air defence of Dassault Mirage 2000, Tanagra and its 114thCombat Wing has a unique position in the Hellenic Air Force whose inventory of aircraft are mostly dominated by US-origin aircraft. Backbone of the Greekjet fighter force is the F-16 Fighting Falcon which is operated by most of fighter squadrons. Besides, a squadron of F-4E Phantom IIs and T-2 Buckeyes remain in service after the air force withdrew the A-7 Corsair II and RF-4E reconnaissance Phantoms.
UAE AF with their M2000-9 models train regularly with Hellenic “Delta’s”
At Tanagra, the 114th Combat Wing operates two Mirage 2000 squadrons, 331 and 332 Mira. However, each squadron has different types of this delta-winged aircraft.
The 332 Mira flies the Mirage 2000 B/E, the other squadron, 331 Mira (also known asËagean Delta’s”), is equipped with the upgraded Mirage 2000-5 version. Lieutenant Colonel VasileiosTsantilas, Deputy Commanding Officer of 331 Squadron explained that the 2000-5 version is a more modern type with a fully digital glass cockpit. The newer type differs from the B/E version in 332 Mira in its radar, armament/missiles and weapon system which is network linked. According to LtCol Tsantilas, who earlier flew the B/E version newer technology of the Mirage 2000-5 requires a different mindset for a pilot, with many sensors and it is essential about and manage them. Main mission of the squadron is air defence, for which the unit rotates its Quick Reaction Alert-QRA schedule according the country’s National Defence Plan. An additional role of the squadron is Precision Attack for which 331 Mira is equipped with SCALP missiles (the French variant of the Storm Shadow missile).
M2000-5BG taxiing with a Tanagra hill landscape view
331 Mira has some 20 pilots on an aircraft including three‘rookie’ pilots currently engaged in operational training. Joining a Hellenic fighter squadron which is currently equipped with F-4, F-16 and Mirage 2000 aircraft, is the coveted step to a young pilot after graduating for the Hellenic Air Force Academy. Lt ColTsantilasstated that new pilots arriving at the 114th Combat Wing can be assigned to one of the two Tanagra-based squadrons, either 331 Mira (Mirage 2000-5) or 332 Mira (Mirage 2000B/E). The new pilot has to undergo an additional programme of approximately 60 sorties to successfully join the squadron. First phase includes eight sorties basically focused on learning about the aircraft. Although it may seem simple,real-time experience of taking off in a Mirage 2000 compared to a T-2 is completely different which is why the pilot needs to acquire all the skills and high quality training before moving on to the next phase.
Lt Col Tsantilas described second phase of pilot training as a kind of ‘Initial Operational Capable-IOC’, followed with the same schedule and additional training before the final stage, before the pilot is declared as “Combat Ready”.
Trio of M2000-5 of 331 Mira at Tanagra runway
331 and 332 Mira maintain strong bonds with other Mirage 2000 operators, such as the French Air Force, who has several units operational on the delta fighter. Almost every year, the two air arm meet during combined training sessions and international exercises. Regular training programmes are also agreed with the Air Force of the United Arab Emirates which operates Mirage 2000.
Text and photos by Peter ten Berg