
Couteau Delta
About the Team
Couteau Delta is the French Air & Space Force’s tactical demonstration pair on the Dassault Mirage 2000D. Established in 2017 as the successor to Ramex Delta (Mirage 2000N), the team showcases two-ship strike tactics—fast low-level passes, pop-up attacks, defensive splits and tight rejoins—bringing the front-line Mirage 2000D mission set to airshow crowds.
Crews are active operational aviators from EC 2/3 “Champagne” and EC 3/3 “Ardennes” at BA 133 Nancy–Ochey. Displays emphasize precision, crew coordination (pilot + WSO), and safe high-energy profiles tailored for public demonstrations.
About the Dassault Mirage 2000D
Role & origin. The Mirage 2000D is the conventional, two-seat strike derivative of the Mirage 2000 family. It first flew in 1991 and entered service in the mid-1990s (1995), optimized for all-weather low-level penetration with the Antilope 5 terrain-following radar and a strengthened airframe.
Layout & powerplant. Single-engine delta-wing design powered by the Snecma M53-P2 turbofan, with digital flight controls and a crew of pilot + weapon systems officer (WSO). The TFR allows automatic flight close to terrain for survivable ingress.
Modernisation (RMV). The Rénovation Mi-Vie (RMV) adds MBDA MICA IR for self-defence, integration of GBU-48/GBU-50 alongside existing LGBs and SCALP-EG, the TALIOS targeting/recce pod, and an optional CC422 30 mm cannon pod—keeping the 2000D relevant well beyond 2030.
Team Facts
Display Aircraft
2 × Mirage 2000D
Established
2017 (successor to Ramex Delta)
Base
BA 133 Nancy–Ochey (France)
Status
Active
Mirage 2000D in French Service
Since entering service in the mid-1990s, the Mirage 2000D has been France’s conventional strike workhorse across the Balkans, Afghanistan, Libya (2011), the Sahel, and the Middle East. Typical loads include laser-guided bombs and SCALP-EG stand-off missiles, with AAMs for self-defence.
The type’s hallmark is the Antilope 5 terrain-following radar enabling automatic low-level flight down to roughly 200 ft (≈60 m) at high subsonic speeds (≈up to 600 kt), a key talking point during demonstrations.
The ongoing RMV mid-life upgrade adds modern displays and software, MICA IR AAMs, expanded precision weapons (GBU-48/-50) and the CC422 30 mm gun pod, plus TALIOS for target acquisition and tac-recce—sustaining relevance into the 2030s.
Did You Know?
- Couteau Delta (“knife” + “delta wing”) replaced Ramex Delta when the Mirage 2000N retired.
- The pair flies operational 2000Ds from EC 2/3 “Champagne” and EC 3/3 “Ardennes” at BA 133.
- The 2000D’s Antilope 5 radar enables automatic terrain-following at ≈200 ft to demonstrate low-level ingress.
- RMV upgrades introduced MICA IR self-defence missiles and new precision bombs like GBU-48/-50.
- Displays highlight crew coordination between the pilot and weapon systems officer (WSO).
Test Your Knowledge
1. How many aircraft form a standard Couteau Delta display?