Gwalior: The first two upgraded Indian Air Force Mirage 2000 aircraft with advanced navigational, radar and missile system landed at Gwalior Air Force Base at 2 PM on April 24. These aircraft were flown by Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots from France to India via Greece, Egypt and Qatar over a period of seven days.
On the arrival, the two aircrafts were accorded the traditional 'Water Cannon Salute'. The leader of the team, Captain M Minocha, was welcomed by the Air Officer Commanding of Air Force Station Gwalior, Air Commodore HS Basra. The leader also handed over the aircraft documents to the Air Officer Commanding. The twin-seater was flown in by Wing Commander Vivek Sharma and Squadron Leader K Suryanarayanan.
The upgrade enhances the overall capability of aircraft with advanced avionics, weapons and self protection suites. The upgrade contract was signed by IAF with Thales Aeroportes Systems and Dassault Aviation of France in July 2011.
The upgrades on the aircraft include a night vision goggle-compatible glass cockpit, advanced navigational systems, advanced Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) system, advanced multi-mode multi-layered radar, fully integrated electronic warfare suite besides others. It also includes a new firing system for Air-to-Air MICA missiles.
The cost of the upgrade is Rs 10,947 crore under which all 48 Mirage 2000 fighters in the IAF arsenal are to be refurbished. When the deal was signed in 2011, IAF had 51 Mirage 2000 in service but at least four have crashed since then.
The rest of the fleet will be upgraded in Bangalore under the responsibility of HAL with the complete support and involvement of Dassault Aviation and Thales teams, the French firms, who are the original manufacturers.
After the upgrade the fighters will be available for another 15 years. The upgraded single-seater fighters have been designated Mirage 2000I and the twin-seat trainer will be known as Mirage 2000TI.
IAF acquired the Mirage 2000 fighters from France in late 1970s and early '80s with the primary aim to counter Pakistan's F-16s which had been supplied by the USA.
Comments
0 comment