PHOTOS
Mirage 2000C - France
This is the Mirage 2000C of EC 5/330 "Côte d'Argent" of the ARMÉE de l'Air
Francaise based at BA118 Mont de Marsan.
Mirage F1CR - France
This is the Mirage F1CR of EC 5/330 "Côte d'Argent" of the ARMÈE de l'Air
Francaise based at BA118 Mont de Marsan.
I've checked and this aircraft had both cannons removed.
Mirage F1CR - France
This is the port side of the fin.
Mirage F1CR - France
This is the starboard side of the fin.
Unit History
This Squadron was created in 1957 with the purpose of evaluate all the new
equipment for the French Air Force.
The Squadron's first mission was to evaluate the "Super Mystere" B2,
French's first supersonic fighter, and the first French air-to-air missile,
the "Nord 5103".
When the Mirage III entered service in 1959, the Squadron was then known
by "The Mirage Squadron", due to its new primary mission of training the new
pilots and the maintenance personnel.
In 1965 it became a fighter Squadron. From that date several aircraft,
missiles, radars and systems have been tested.
In October 1987 it became an independent unit on its own right.
Today, the Squadron is working with several Mirage F1 and Mirage 2000
versions as well with the Rafale.
EC 5/330 is the operational Squadron of the Centre d'Expérimentations
Aériennes Militaires (CEAM).
CEAM is tasked with the combat evaluation of military aircraft and weapons
entering Armée de l'Air service and as a result it can expect to receive the
first aircraft from each new batch.
The unit is also responsible for training the personnel of the first, Forces
Aériennes Stratégiques or Tactique, Squadrons to receive a new type of
equipment.
CEAM is also tasked with finalising new combat doctrines for new equipment
and weapon systems.
Aircraft on strength include Mirage F1B/C fighters, Mirage F1CR/CT recce/attack,
Mirage 2000B/C fighters, Mirage 2000N/D strike/attack and Apha Jet E
trainers.
The first two Armée de l'Aire production Rafales B301 and B302, regulary
operate from CEAM helping Air Force personnel gain first-hand experience of
the performance of the new fighter.
Escadre de Chasse (EC) - Fighter Squadron
Centre d'Experimentations Aériennes Militaires (CEAM) - Military Air Test
Center
Base Aérienne (BA) - Air Base
(Mirage F1/Mirage 2000)B -
Biplace / Two-seat
(Mirage F1/Mirage 2000)C -
Chasseur / Fighter
Mirage F1CR - Chasseur
Reconaissance / Fighter Recce
Mirage F1CT - Chasseur
Tactique / Tactical Fighter
Mirage 2000N - Nucleaire /
Nuclear
Mirage 2000D - Diversifié /
Diversified
Alpha JetE - Ecole / School
Rafale B301 - Biplace /
Two-seat
AMD_BA - Avions Marcel Dassault_Breguet Aviation