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Squadron chatENGAGE!4 ●2004Three anniversaries in one !Three anniversaries were celebrated in one event by the French Air Force duringthe 26th and 27th June, 2004 Air Show at Dijon AFB, France: 20 years of servicefor the Mirage 2000, 70 years of existence for the FAF and 90 years since thecreation of the Dijon airbase.The meeting was presided by FAFChief of Staff Gal Wolsztynski.He was accompanied by some ofthe pilots among those who flewthe Mirage 2000 at the E.C.1/2"Cigognes" when it was firstinducted into the FAF.The Mirage 2000 has loggedmore than 1,200,000 flight hoursto date with more than 600aircraft built for 8 countriesthroughout the world.Pitch Black 04Four Mirage 2000-5s from Dijon E.C.1/2 and E.C. 2/2 and a C-135 FR tankertook part in the "Pitch Black 04"exercise at RAAF Darwin last summer.The Royal Thai AF and the Republic ofSingapore AF were also contributingtheir F-16s and all invited partieswere pitched against the AustralianF/A-18 A/Bs in a demonstration ofcoalition operations and interoperability.The FAF Mirage 2000-5s performed111 sorties in 20 days with animpressive 97% availability. Thedeployment to Australia was supported"Des ailes et des hommes""Des ailes et des hommes" ("Wings andmen") is Alexandre Paringaux'slatest book on French AirForce Unitspublished onthe occasionof the 70thanniversary ofthe French AirForce. Thissuperb bookcontains lots ofwonderful Mirage2000 pictures byA. Paringauxhimself, a famousMirage aerial photographer.by a single C-130 H and by a DC 8.Onlyfour legs were necessary for the ferryflight to Australia of the four Mirage2000-5s and their accompanying C-135FR.Details available on www.defence.gov.au40th anniversary of FASThe French Strategic Command (FAS)has celebrated its 40th anniversaryin 2004. The FAS operate the Mirage2000N and the famous Mirage IV Pwhich is to be retired from servicein June, 2005.TraditionsTanagra AFB, Greece: 15 pilots whologged more than 1,000 flight hourson the Mirage 2000 were awardeddiplomas and trophies during a formalceremony taking place in Greece.Dijon, Istres and Luxeuil AFB, France:110 pilots who logged more than 1,000and 2,000 flight hours on the Mirage2000 were awarded diplomas andtrophies during formal ceremonies attheir Squadrons, E.C.1/2 "Cigognes",E.C.2/2 "Cote d'Or", E.C.1/4"Dauphine", E.C.2/4 "La Fayette" andE.C.3/4 "Limousin".Contact: D. Coulier (Dassault Aviation /Military Customer Support Division:deborah.coulier@dassault-aviation.fr)3000 hourson Mirage 2000French Air Force WSO Capt Baudrand(EC 1/3"Navarre") wasgranted the3,000 hourspatch, diplomaand trophy afterflying more than3,000 hourson Mirage 2000Nand D, between1984 and 2004.The ceremonytook place at EC2/3 "Champagne"located at NancyAir Force Base.Summary245681012Restriction notice:This publication is intended for information only. Its contents neitherreplace nor revise any material in official manuals or publications.All rights reserved.No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrievalsystem, transmitted in any form or by any electronic, mechanical,photocopying, recording or otherwise - translating in other language -without prior written permission of Dassault-Aviation.About our cover:Peruvian Mirage 2000P“Unitas” 2004 in PeruEscuadron N° 412Flight safety cornerMirage 2000 UserConferenceFocus on Mirage 2000landing gearA new era in missiondebriefingLettersAbout our posters:R°: Peruvian Mirage 2000P over lagoon in PeruV°: E.C. N°412 Photos and 2005 calendarPhoto creditsPhotos by French Air Force, SIRPA-Air, A. Paringaux, F. Robineau,J.P. Jacqueline, Thales, Snecma-Moteurs, Dassault Aviation andPeruvian Air Force.Editorial“Our last Exercise was held in July 2nd 2004,we have flown seven sorties in air defenseand air to air combat missions against F 18’ssuper hornets from the Ronald Reagan nuclearaircraft carrier during the “Unitas 2004”Exercise. Proudly I can say that our mirages andtheir pilots have performed and outstandingwork in this “war game””.Here is the third issue of “ENGAGE!”,mostly dedicated to the Peruvian Air Forceand their superb Mirage 2000P/DP, photosand videos of which you will find in theenclosed DVD at the end of this publication.Many thanks to the Peruvian AF andespecially to Squadron CommanderCarlos E. Chavez. They have taken aserious lead in the competition for providing“ENGAGE!” with Mirage 2000 operatorsmaterial. An example to follow!We are looking forward to receiving articlesfrom other Mirage 2000 operators. We willbe happy to publish them in the forthcomingissues of “ENGAGE!”.Enjoy!The “ENGAGE!” TeamMIRAGE 2OOOTHE BEST OFairpowermentENGAGE! 1

Unitas-Passex exercise 2004with Peruvians FalconsAt the southern part ofPeru over the Arequipa´sdesert raises “La Joya”AFB which is the homeof the Fourth Air Groupand the 412th FighterSquadron where the PeruvianAir Force Pilots proudly operatethe Mirage 2000.Since 1986 this Squadronensures the protectionof thesouth Peruvianskies. This heavyduty is accomplishedby experimentedPilots who keepthe traditions andlegacy of CaptainJosé Quiñones thePeruvian Air Force herowho was immortalized inPeru-Ecuador war in 1941. ThisSquadron makes the training ofits Pilots in multirole missionsduring the year with a lot ofAir-to-Air, Air-to-Ground andAir-to-Sea missions. During theAir-to-Air training, the Mirage2000P/DP engages with theMIG-29´s in dissimilar aircombat exercises. This trainingis excellent to increase the skillsof fighter pilots into the aircombat scenarios.With this combative spirit,on the 2nd of July over thesouthern skies was performedthe air phase of the"Unitas-2004" exercise. Thisphase consisted of air defenseand Air-to-Air combat missionsbetween the Mirage 2000Pand F-18 E/F Super Hornet fromthe Ronald Reagan nuclearaircraft carrier.The objective of Unitas isthe integration and training ofAmerican Naval Forces duringseveral days of operations. Forthe first time in the Unitashistory, Air-to-Air missions wereincorporated under the"Passex" call sign withspecific purpose to practice airinterception and air combatmaneuvers (ACM) witha foreign Air Force.In this "War Game" thePeruvian Falcons defendeda Fighter Area of ResponsibilityFAOR with Combat Air Patrol(CAP) of Peruvian Mirages2000P and the F-18 E/F wereassigned to attack. After radio contact with ACI(E-2B) the fighters were guided to interceptionsand ACM.The 412th Fighter Squadron "Halcones"participated in many sorties the same day withMirage 2000P loaded with A/A training missilesand a lot of Peruvian proud and brave fighterheart spirit. After each exercise the Miragesand Hornets were joined to take pictures toimmortalize this event and be able to show itto you.During this exercise the Peruvian aircrewmembers have demonstrated their skills andexperience into an Air-to-Air environment withanother type of aircraft and they have the prideof the successful accomplishment: work withunknown foreign pilots during the exercise.For the Peruvian Falcons it was very importantto take part in this exercise because they haveshowed their excellent training level which willallow them to assist to multinational exercisesin the near future.And finally, the “Halcones” always havein their minds the courage, skill and combativemoral and without never forgetting that“When the moment comes, the aviator mustsacrifice himself”.Fly Safe and keep the true nature of the Mirage2000 pilots around the world.Long life to“ESCUADRON DE CAZA Nº 412”.E.C. Nº 412 Squadron Commander Carlos E. Chavez2 ENGAGE! 3

The 412 th Fighter SquadronFlight safety corner“Halcones” heritageIn 1986, with the acquisition of the Mirage2000P at the 4th Air Group, the Peruvian AirForce created the 412th Fighter Squadron. Fourpilots received the initial training in France, andbecame the first crew to fly over the southernskies of Peru with the most advanced combataircraft in South America. The following year,we started incorporating into the 412th FighterSquadron other experienced fighter pilots. Yearafter year, they have made it the best fightersquadron of the Peruvian Air Force, upgradingand updating the flight procedures in air combattactics, air strikes and air-to-sea missions.In 1991, the pilots of the 412th FighterSquadron acquired even more proficiency andfighting capacity during a training period inthe combat simulator of the French Air Forceat Mont-de-Marsan. The skills they gainedduring the training, together with their highlycombative morale, were demonstrated duringthe Alto Cenepa armed conflict in 1995: duringseveral weeks they flew air escorts, combat airpatrol and strike missions without losing asingle aircraft. Also contributing to the prestigeof the crew were the spectacular maneuversperformed during the FIDAE 1994 InternationalAir Show in Chile, where the Peruvian Air Forcepresentation was the principal attraction. The pilotskept improving their experience over the yearswith air deployments all over Peru, with its “hard”geography.As of today, the 412th Fighter Squadron is underthe command of FAP Commander Carlos ChavezCateriano, who continues the experience legacyand heritage from previous Mirage 2000 pilots.Along with all “Halcones”, he is dedicated tomaking the sovereignty and integrity of ourPeruvian sky even more stronger.Total air superiorityThe dream of every fighter pilot is to becomea first line combat aircraft pilot. And for the new412th Fighter Squadron pilots, this is their goal,with excellence required in operative aspects, andin physiological and psychological conditions. Flyingthe best Peruvian fighter plane requires every daythe dedication, study, ability and professionalismwhich go with Mirage 2000 pilots.The daily routine begins with a meeting wherethe pilots examine new interesting themes aboutthe Mirage 2000 aircraft systems, navigation andattack system, tactics, and general culture as wellas a CRM development in emergency exercises.They check the weather conditions, and thenthey are ready to fly. The pilots can do all types ofmission. They make their briefing and take off topractice Air-to-Air interceptions and dogfight,combat air patrol, ground strikes and sea strikes, asrequired by the mission schedule. In such conditionstheir skills, courage and valor are generously spent.Good physical condition is required to achieve agood performance under nine “G” forces. Beforethe mission ends, they practice instrument proceduresto stay current and trained to face any unusualsituation. During the debriefing every fact isanalyzed carefully to improve the next mission.A fighter pilot feels very proud to be an“Halcon” as they are very brave and will defendthe integrity of the Peruvian Nation. These peopleovercome the limits and problems of livingfar away from the civilization underthe very strong sun rays in the middle of thedesert. However, they carry into their heartsthe bravery, the skills and the fighting spiritrequired to lead their squadron to the completevictory, always remembering that : “When thevery moment comes, the Peruvian aviator mustgo to the sacrifice”.“The way you train,the way you will combattomorrow”This is a tenet of the 412th Fighter Squadron,and it is always on our minds during trainingsorties, even more when we perform Air-to-Airexercises along with the MiG-29’s and otherplanes to make the scenarios as realistic aspossible.Technology to managethe futureThe General Commander of the Peruvian AirForce is dedicated to maintaining the PeruvianAir Force as a very powerful and efficient AirPower, with very well trained personnel toaccomplish all present and future missions.From this perspective the Mirage 2000 isexpected to contribute to the excellence of thePeruvian Air Force for many years to come.E.C. Nº 412 Squadron Commander Carlos E. ChavezCircumstances...A short cut definition of Flight Safety could be:for the pilot/crew to always manage to have“a way out”.From this statement and going backward,the pilot/crew must stay within limits and keepsome margin regarding these limits. Then you haveto permanently check and monitor if these marginsare good enough and/or not deteriorating too fast,i.e. always have a good knowledge of whereyou are in the envelope and where you standin relation with “the environment” (other a/c, theweather, the ground...), of what is your “globalenergy potential”, in other words, to always havea good SA.Then you have "circumstances"...What are “circumstances” ? Everything unexpectedor particular which is going to suddenly leave youwith no margin, no time. Everything which is goingto disrupt or delay the relevant way to deal withthe new situation at hand.Everything which can let you only withthe “Martin-Baker ride” option, and sometimes,unfortunately, with no way out...“Circumstances”... like the unseen a/c whichsuddenly “fills” the windshield and the immediate,terrible, midair collision.... like the Red warninghorn when you're flying inverted, at low speed, inBFM... like the sudden loss of overall performanceof your a/c or engine cornering you... like the“knock-it-off” call and the necessary radioexchanges to tell your state and intentions... likethe cloud layer you have to deal with before oramid compliance with the emergency procedure...“Circumstances” which can ruin your day in asplit second.Yes, Flight Safety is a fragile thing.Unfortunately, this year statistics mirror this terrificand unmerciful truth of flying combat aircraft.G. Dailloux (Dassault Aviation Flight Safety V.P.)4ENGAGE! 5

The first Mirage 2000 User Conference took place in Parisfrom 4th to 8th October, 2004. This "Premiere" wasorganized in the wake of previous editions devoted tothe Alpha Jet and the Mirage F1. It has providedan opportunity to strengthen the relationshipbetween Mirage 2000 operators and DassaultAviation by mutually learning lessons fromaccumulated flight hours and by exchanging infoon maintenance and operation issues.MIRAGE 2000user conferenceAll 8 countries operating the Mirage 2000 were attendingUnited Arab EmiratesTaïwanEgyptIndiaQatarPeruFranceGreeceEach user country was represented bytwo Chiefs of Maintenance and oneMirage 2000 Pilot who presentedtheir own Air Force and spoke onsubjects such as the salvaging of HAFMirage 2000EG 210 for Greece andthe FAF Mirage 2000Ds deploymentto Manas, Kyrgyzstan for France.The Mirage 2000 User Conferencewas organized by the Military CustomerSupport Division of Dassault Aviation tocover the main technical events aboutthe airframe, excluding all weaponsystem issues for confidentialityreasons. Flight Safety was an obviousbackdrop to all the presentations.Examples of subjects addressed byDassault Aviation representatives were:■ Airframe fatigue and ageing■ Maintenance plans optimization■ Airframe behavior (wing fittings...)and info feed back on doors issues.■ Obsolescence■ Main technical events (Landing gear,hydraulics, FCS, electrical, ECS, oxygen,Accessory drive box, and power takeoff)■ CAS (Contractor Assisted Support)■ Military Customer support productsand Services (Speed, Door to Door,Maintenance Aids,...)This week long event ended by visiting the Air and Space Museum at Le Bourget with its restoration facilities.This outstanding Air Museum, the oldest one in the world, was created in 1919 and features 20,000 itemsdisplayed on 250,000 sq.m exposition space.6 ENGAGE! 7

Focus on Mirage 2000The Mirage 2000 madeits first flight in March 1978and went into operationalservice with the FrenchAir Force in 1984 (for theMirage 2000C and B airdefense versions).The Mirage 2000 hassince been ordered byeight countries (France,Egypt, Greece, India, Peru,Qatar, Taiwan and UnitedArab Emirates).The Mirage2000 has logged morethan 1,200,000 flighthours, with more than500 aicraft into serviceto date.Snecma Moteurs' M53-P2 engine powersthe Mirage 2000 and another Snecma groupcompany, Messier-Dowty, designed the fighter'slanding system (nose and main landinggear, equipped with brace actuators).The world leader in landing systems, Messier-Dowty makes Mirage 2000 equipment at itsBidos production unit in Southwestern France.Nearly 550 series and spare landing gear setshave been manufactured.The Bidos plant also makes spare parts.Maintenance work on Mirage 2000 landinggear is done either by the users (India andTaiwan, for example), or by Messier-Dowtysubsidiary Messier Services. In both cases,Dassault Aviation acts as intermediary,ordering spare parts from Messier-Dowty.The Mirage 2000 landing gear systemat a glanceThe aircraft is equipped with a tricycle landinggear:- a twin wheel nose gear, rearwards retractable,is fitted with an electro-hydraulic wheelsteering system, at pilot's disposal, actuatedby the pedals,- a single wheel main landing gear is hingedon each half-wing and is retractable partlyinto the fuselage and partly into the wing.In flight, the gear housings are closedby doors. Doors and gears actuators arehydraulically operated. They are fed throughtwo independent systems correspondingto normal operation (retraction-extension) andemergency operation (extension only).Main landing gear maincharacteristics :■ Dimensions of main wheel tubeless tires =29.5 x 9.1 - 15 inches■ Nominal tire pressure (aircraft on jacks) ofmain wheel = 14.8 bars (214 psi)■ Weight of main wheel = 21 kg (46 lb)■ Leg weight = 75 kg (165 lb)■ Inflation pressure of upper low-pressurechamber of shock absorber = 22 bar(319 psi)■ Inflation pressure of lower high-pressurechamber of shock absorber = 100 bar(1,450 psi)■ Under-carriage track: 3.4 meters (11.155 ft)■ Shock absorbers are nitrogen inflated.landing gearNose landing gear maincharacteristics :■ Dimensions of nose wheel tubeless tires =14.2 x 5.3 - 6 inches■ Nominal tire pressure (aircraft on jacks) ofnose wheel = 9.5 bars (137.5 psi)■ Weight of nose wheel = 3 kg (6.6 lb)■ Nose wheel steering control effective overa range of 45° on either side of the aircraftcentreline■ Deflection during towing: + 45° (+ 360°swivel for maneuvering can be obtainedby uncoupling the torque links)■ Leg weight = 44 kg (97 lb)■ Shock absorber charging pressure = 23 bar(334 psi)■ Wheel base: 5 meters (16.417 ft)■ Shock absorbers are nitrogen inflated.8 ENGAGE! 9

A new erainmission debriefingThe arrival of theMirage 2000-5 and itsentry into service with theFrench Air Force in 1998highlighted the fact thattraditional combat missiondebriefing methods hadreached their limits.Debriefing 2 vs 2 combat exercises onthe basis of audio and video recordingsand pilots' memories alone was stillpossible, albeit with an inevitableelement of vagueness and subjectivity.However, the move to 4 vs 4 (or more!)training made the exercise simply toocomplicated. Thales' SERPAM missiondebriefing system arrived just at theright time to meet exactly thisoperational need.The system comprises a PC equippedwith two screens and a digital memorycard reader. It is totally air-transportableand can be linked to an MBDA simulationsof missile trajectories.Prior to each mission, blank memorycards are programmed with the name andmission of each pilot, and are installedon each aircraft. The system taps into theaircraft's databus and copies informationon trajectories, cockpit displays andweapons, if necessary, to the memorycard so that all aspects of the missioncan subsequently be reconstructed onthe central PC. Once the aircraft areback on the ground, the information onthe cards can be downloaded in a matterof minutes. This information makes itpossible to visualise aircraft trajectoriesand review the indications provided bythe Mirage 2000-5F's various cockpitscreens throughout the correspondingmanoeuvres.Accurate replay of trajectories provides animpartial perspective, making it possibleto determine whether tactical instructionsgiven at the pre-mission briefing wererespected to the letter. This, in turn,provides valuable input for refining thesetactics on the basis of their effectiveness,as demonstrated during post-missionanalysis using the SERPAM system.Analysis of onboard instrument readingsenables objective judgements on the pertinenceof decisions taken by each piloton the basis of the information availableat that moment, which is extremelyvaluable in pilot training.Visualisation of the aircraft's trajectories.This dimension is one of the major pluspoints of the SERPAM system in termof mission restitution and is absentfrom most of the systems used byother air fleets. Despite its manystrengths, however, the system is notwithout its limitations. For debriefingsrequiring extremely detailed analysis,squadrons still need to manuallysynchronise audio recordings, includingthat of the controller, with SERPAMreconstructions in order to obtain allthe necessary information.In addition, SERPAM can currently onlyreconstruct combat exercises once theyhave been completed. However, futuredevelopments are planned.■ France is not the only countryequipped with the SERPAM system: theTaiwanese Air Force also has it.■ Thales is currently finalizing theimplementation of an evolution ofSERPAM: it will allow to addsimultaneous video and audio data tothe system data recording."The SERPAM mission debriefing system has been good for our humility," jokes Captain Ducoin,(second from left) Flight Commander of 2/2 "Côte d'Or" Squadron, based in Dijon, France.10ENGAGE! 11

ENGAGE!4 ● 2004LettersENGAGE!4 ● 2004It is a pleasure to address you. Let meintroduce myself. My name isCommander Carlos Chavez and I’m theMirage 2000 Squadron Commander atla Joya AFB in Peru. I have just receivethe 3-2004 publication of your"ENGAGE!" paper along with a DVDvideo. I found it fascinating and I wouldlike to have contact with you and yourorganization.The Mirage 2000 Squadron is named"Escuadron de Caza nº 412" in Spanish,and we are located in the south ofPeru, we operate 12 Mirage 2000 andI command this great squadron sinceFebruary 2003.Our last Exercise was held in July 2nd2004, we have flown seven sorties in airdefense and Air-to-Air combat missionsagainst F-18´s super hornets from theRonald Reagan nuclear aircraft carrierduring the "Unitas 2004" Exercise.Proudly I can say that our miragesand their pilots have performed andoutstanding work in this "war game".I´m going to attach a couple of picturesand maybe you can publish them in afuture publication (if you want to havemore information about this Exercise,just let me know).Well, I hope to have a quick responseand your comments.Very respectfully.Carlos E. Chavez, Mirage 2000 SquadronCommander Peru.■ This ENGAGE! publication is yoursto write and publish what you want to.We are very proud to have such feed backfrom one of our great Mirage 2000operators. - Editor.I thank you very much for sendingto me your ENGAGE! publication whichis a very good idea. I wish it a longlife!!! Your magazine is well designedand should satisfy all those who arekeen on this outstanding aircraft:the Mirage 2000.E. Janssonne, Colmar-Houssen, France.I would like to know if I could reproduceyour piece on the Mirage 2000 Displayfor the next issue of AFM, which comesout before Fairford. If so, could I getthe some of the pics that you usedincluding the two pilots which runacross the page. Kind regards.A. Warnes, Editor for Air ForcesMonthly.■ ENGAGE! is honored by AFM's request.Permission granted !Editor's note: permission to reproducewritten material published in ENGAGE!should be requested from the Editor.Pictures contained in the DVDs can befreely reproduced, subject to mentioningthe photo credits listed on page 1 of eachissue. - Editor.I discovered your magazine duringa meeting with one of my customers,himself a Mirage 2000 operator. Firstof all I wish to congratulate you forthe editorial content as well as forthe layout that places it very close to"Code One".Is it possible for a non-operator to beincluded in your mailing list?V. Meslet, Guyancourt, France.I have just got your 3-2004 ENGAGE!magazine in my hands with its enclosedDVD. I am really impressed by itsphotos and videos excellent quality.This publication is outstanding forpeople keen on Mirage 2000. How canI get it? Thanking you to answer quicklymy E-mail.A. Strippe, Caen, France.■ ENGAGE! can be sent to you free ofcharge. Please let us know the deliveryaddress. - Editor.Send your letters to :Hervé Hamon, Dassault Aviation, (DGI), 78, quai Marcel Dassault, 92552 Saint-Cloud, Cedex 300 – France, Fax: (+33) 1 47 11 61 10or at: engage@dassault-aviation.frwww.dassault-aviation.com www.snecma-moteurs.com www.thales-airbornesystems.com12

ENGAGE!4 ● 2004Calendar 2005