A FRENCH AIR force Dassault Mirage 2000 was shot down near Pale during a series of extensive air strikes launched by NATO against Bosnian Serb positions beginning 30 August.
Targets attacked included radar sites and surface-to-air-missile batteries, ammunition dumps and communications infrastructure. According to NATO, the air strikes were in response to Bosnian Serb forces continuing to shell Sarajevo with mortar and artillery fire.
The bulk of the forces used in the air strikes, were provided by, the US Air force and US Navy. Grumman EA-6B Prowlers flying from both Aviano in Italy and the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt provided electronic combat-support, with Lockheed Martin F-16s and McDonnell Douglas F-18s using laser-guided bombs.
Royal Air Force British Aerospace Harrier GR7s, Sepecat Jaguar GR1As, and Panavia Tornado F3s - with French Dassault Mirage 2000s - also took part. The Jaguar GR1As were used to laser-designate for the GR7s, which carried Paveway laser-guided bombs. A RAF Boeing E-3D was also deployed alongside USAF E-3A Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft.
Both, the crew of the Mirage 2000D shot down, ejected. It is not known what caused the loss of the aircraft, although Bosnian Serb forces used both infra red and radar-guided SAMs against the NATO aircraft. In the wake of the air strikes, NATO forces carried out reconnaissance missions for battle-damage assessment.
Source: Flight International
