combat aircraft

tactical reconnaissance requirement in

mind, the crews take a digital camera on

missions as a useful point-and-

shoot backup.

Armed and dangerous

French Mirages face a somewhat limited

choice when it comes to delivering

kinetic e ect in ‘Barkhane’. The most

prevalent weapon is the 250kg (550lb)

bomb, available in several guided

versions. The laser-guided GBU-12

Paveway II is a popular choice for crews,

as is its GBU-49 sister, which combines

laser guidance with GPS. The GBU-49 is

identi ed by two small GPS antennae on

the nose cone, together with a window

for the proximity fuse for airburst. This

function detonates the bomb 10ft above

the ground, an e ective means of

tackling ‘soft’ targets.

The Mirage 2000C is able to strafe with

its twin 30mm DEFA cannons, but the

gap between the gun and a 250kg bomb

is notable. The French Air Force lacks a

medium-weight weapon such as a light

air-to-ground missile, which hampers its

ability to modulate the e ects of a strike.

The 2000Cs are not wired to carry and

employ the GBU-49, and are therefore

limited to carrying a pair of GBU-12s,

which must be lased by the 2000Ds.

Mirage 2000C pilots have now adopted

two e ective techniques with their

GBU-12s. When the pilot has the target in

sight, he or she can tip in and the

accompanying 2000D will provide  nal

guidance until impact. On the other

hand, if the 2000C pilot cannot acquire

the target visually, they stay close to the

2000D and drop on command.

There is an unmanned element to this

mission, too. Niamey now hosts  ve

General Atomics MQ-9 Reapers,

although they are not currently

armed. With only four crews available,

the unit is hard-pressed to meet

operational requirements.

Below left to right:

The two-person

Mirage 2000D

team.

A Mirage 2000D

with PDL-

CTS (thermal

camera laser

designation) pod.

Five MQ-9

Reapers of the

French Air Force

are currently

based at Niamey,

but they fl y

unarmed.

The Mirage 2000Cs and 2000Ds

work as co-operative pairs,

training together at home ahead

of their deployments.

COMBAT REPORT // OPERATION ‘BARKHANE’

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