Mirage-2000s to Get Critical Canabalised Spares
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has signed a contract, on 31 August, to buy 24 phased out Mirages of the French Air Force, to improve the spares and airframe capability to help improve the serviceability of the around 50 Mirage-2000s in the Indian fleet. None of these aircraft would be used for flying. A squadron of the French Mirage jets had been phased out some time ago.
The cost of the contract has been put at 27 million euros. Out of 24, eight are in ready-to-fly condition. 13 are in complete condition with engine and airframe intact, while the remaining 11 are partially complete but with fuel tanks and ejection seats. These aircraft, which costed 1.125 million euros each, will soon be shipped to India in containers. IAF will also secure parts for its two existing squadrons of the aircraft.
As a multi-role platform, Mirage-2000 is possibly the most versatile machine in its class. Most French Air Force Mirage-2000s are no longer operationally deployed. Most of the 24 aircraft will be used as ‘spares’. IAF has already adopted the same process by buying Jaguar airframes and other spares from France.
This is the second such agreement that the Indian Air Force has signed for buying okayed airframes that will help one of the most potent aircraft fleets to continue for longer in service. They have helped in significantly improving operational availability.
India had acquired Mirage-2000 aircraft from France in the 1980s and they have been one of the most potent fleets of aircraft despite being over three decades old. The aircraft had taken part in the Balakot airstrikes against terrorist camps in Pakistan and destroyed a camp there. The aircraft had fired their Spice-2000 bombs accurately to take out targets deep inside Pakistan territory.
The Mirage fleet is undergoing a mid-life upgrade. The aircraft is becoming obsolete in France and is in immediate need of 300 critical spares.
The maintenance contract of the 50 fourth-generation Mirage 2000 C and B fighters purchased in 1985 expired in 2005, following which IAF signed another contract in 2015-2016 with the French original equipment manufacturer.
Mirage 2000 is a multi-role combat fighter, which has both single-seat and two-seat variants. The fighter platform is currently in use by the French Air Force, UAE Air Force, and the Republic of China Air Force apart from the IAF.
The Mirage 2000 can cruise at Mach 2.2 speeds, reach an approach speed of 140 knots and a maximum climbing 60,000 feet per minute. It takes about five minutes for the Mirage to climb up to altitudes of 36,000 feet.
The fighter jet has an operational ceiling of 55,000 feet and a service ceiling of 17,060m. It has a ferry range of 3,335 kilometers and an operational range of 1,550km. The rate of climb on the aircraft is 285 meters per second.
The aircraft is armed with 2 X 30-millimeter guns, air-to-air missiles MBDA MICA IR/RF, Matra R550 Magic-II, Matra Super 530D. Its air-to-surface missiles include AM.39 Exocet, AS-30L laser-guided missiles, and ASMP tactical nuclear cruise missile. The fighter jet also carries mk82 bombs.
The Mirage 2000’s VEH 3020 Head-Up Display has been designed by Thales Avionics and its Laser Designation Pod is a product of Thales Optronics
