Tanagra Air Base (Τανάγρα) is placed in the eastern part of central Greece, not far from the capital Athens. It is home of the 114th Combat Wing (114 Πτέρυγα Μάχης), which is in charge of two groups, the 331th All Weather Squadron (331 Μοίρα Παντός Καιρού) and the 332th All Weather Squadron (332 Μοίρα Παντός Καιρού), the first with a Mirage 2000-5Mk2EG/BG, while the second still fly the older Mirage 2000EG/BG. Wing task is to maintain a high level of readiness and efficiency, obtained with a rigorous organization and training. It is also responsible for the safety of flight operations at any time.
The 331st Sqn was established April 18, 1988, at Tanagra Air Base under the 114th Combact Wing to integrate the third-generation fighter Mirage 2000EG/BG.The first 4 M-2000 landed at the airbase on August 27, 1988, assigned to the 331st Sqd. Then the pilots started the training. The first to train were pilots very experienced with many fliyng hours Mirage F-1CG and F-4E. The group task was to ensure the air cover of the capital and the Aegean Sea, including some operating from FOB scattered islands in the Aegean. Since 2000, the group passed on Mirage 2000-5mk2EG. So its operational capabilities were greatly increasing. Recently, between 9 March 2009 and April 3, 2009, the 331st Sqd took part in successfully to the TLP 09.2 for the first time with 4 Mirage 2000-5mk2EG.
The 332nd Sqn was established on 11 August 1989 based on Tanagra placed in the 114th Wing Combact with Mirage 2000EG/BG.Il November 1, 1989 the group received 14 Mirage. Again the first pilots to prepare for the new fighter pilots were experts from the Mirage F-1CG and F-4E community. A year later, exactly in November 1990, the group successfully passed the evaluation required by the Hellenic Tactical Air Force. Since then, the 332nd Sqd is part of the warning system HAF, making interception missions over the Aegean sea and protecting the capital Athens, as happened during the 2004 Olympics. The training of new pilots is secured by the Mirage 2000 Flight Training. Currently the group operates with the Mirage 2000EG/BG outdated and is currently not expected to upgrade them.
The Greek air force along with 8 other nations flyies with Mirage2000, multi-role fighter, with strong emphasis on the air-air component, with a delta wing developed and manufactured by French Dassault. The EPA have a total of 45 Mirage2000 of 4 different versions mostly used for air defense. In fact the beginning of March 1985 ordered by "Talos" contract 36 Mirage2000EG single-seater and 4 twin-seater Mirage2000BG. They are equipped with a suite for defensive countermeasures ICMS 1, characterized by two small antennas near the top of the tailfin. Moreover Mirage Greeks are able to use the AM39 Exocet anti-ship missiles. Which makes this version even anti-ship, something unique for Mirage2000. In 2000, then Greece ordered 15 new Mirage2000-5Mk2EG addition to including the upgrade of an additional 10 aircraft, already supplied with the EPA, to the same standard. In September 2004 the first Mirage2000-5 landed at the Tanagra Airbase. These aircraft are different from their predecessors because they have a radar RDY-2 Synthetic Aperture updated and improved inertial system. Also a greater number of pylons for the launch of weapons are available from which missiles MICA and MICA IR can be launched, plus a number of additional defensive suite. While actively participating in exercises and operations with NATO and national air defense operations, such as the CAP missions over Athens for the Olympic Games, just once the EPA Mirage opened fire. On October 8, 1996, in fact, during a dogfight with a Turkish fighter occurred over Imia / Kardak a Mirage 2000EG fired an R550 Magic missile that shoot down an F-16D. Of the two pilots aboard the turkish fighter only one ejected and was recovered by the air forces of Greece. Turkish government claimed that the F-16D was conducting a training mission north of the Greek island Samos, near the Turkish peninsula.
We thank all the staff of the 114th Combat Wing and the 331st and 332nd Mira and Security Office. Thanks, finally, to Col. Roberto Cattaneo of the Italian Embassy in Greece for made possible this day.