Disbandment of Mirage 2000D 4/3 “Argonne” transformation squadron

On 27 May, Brigadier General Bertrand Jardin, commander of the Fighter Aviation Brigade (BAAC) of the Air Force Command, disbanded the transformation squadron on Mirage 2000D EC 04.003 "Argonne", which motto is "sing and fight".

Successor of the EC 03.001 Argonne traditions, operational on the Republic F-84 Thunderjet from 1953 to 1957, the EC 02.007 Argonne was officially formed on 1 May 1974, Saint-Dizier-Robinson airbase (BA 113). Disbanded in June 2001, EC 02.007 Argonne was reformed in July 2010 as a Mirage 2000D transformation squadron (ETD 02.007) in Nancy Ochey (BA 133).

Since 5 September 2014, the squadron has been attached to Nancy's reformed 3rd Fighter Squadron. It was renamed ETD 04.003 Argonne as of 9 January 2016

The squadron's disbandment was announced on 11 February 2020, to the airmen of the Nancy base and then confirmed by General Lavigne, the Chief of Staff of the Air and Space Army (CEMAAE), during a visit to Nancy-Ochey airbase [BA] 133, last March.

Therefore, this operation will see the merger of the transformation squadron on Mirage 2000D 04.003 "Argonne" and the 02.003 fighter squadron "Champagne". This reorganization prepares for the arrival of the refurbished Mirage 2000Ds by bringing together the personnel trained on Mirage 2000D renovated in Nancy and especially in the 02.003 "Champagne".

The ceremony was closed by the passage of eight Alphajet of the Patrouille de France and four Mirage 2000D of the BA 133 followed by the Couteau Delta (tactical demonstration patrol on Mirage 2000D) for their first presentation of the season since their resumption this year.

Source: Jean Francois Autan
Photos: Laurent Casaert via les DCA, Armee de l’Air et de l’Espace