Analysis Could India Acquire More Mirage 2000-5F Fighter Jets? French Transfer to Ukraine Creates Opportunity

France's recent transfer of Mirage 2000-5F fighter jets to Ukraine has inadvertently opened a potential window for India to bolster its own fleet of these capable aircraft.

While the primary aim of the French move is to strengthen Ukraine's defenses amidst ongoing conflict, the resulting surplus of Mirage 2000-5Fs in France's inventory could present a valuable opportunity for India.

France initially committed to sending six of these multi-role fighters to Ukraine, with three already discreetly deployed to airfields in the country's western regions. This decision stems from the French Air Force's choice not to upgrade 20 of its older Mirage 2000-5F jets. With six now destined for Ukraine, 14 unmodified units remain.

India, a long-standing operator of Mirage 2000s, has expressed interest in acquiring more of these aircraft. The Indian Air Force (IAF) is reportedly in discussions with Qatar for the potential purchase of 12 Mirage 2000-5 fighters. The availability of these French jets could offer another avenue for India to expand its fleet.

The Mirage 2000 has been a cornerstone of the IAF, known for its precision strike and air superiority capabilities. Acquiring additional units would not only boost the IAF's overall strength but also ensure seamless integration, given India's extensive operational familiarity with the platform.

The Mirage 2000-5F, inducted into service in 1999, boasts advanced features such as RDY radars, MICA missiles, and a modern cockpit with five digital screens. In the IAF, Mirage 2000s have played a crucial role in India's nuclear deterrence strategy, capable of carrying a 20-kiloton nuclear warhead. While the arrival of Rafale jets may shift this responsibility, the Mirage 2000 is expected to remain in service until 2035.

Acquiring additional Mirage 2000-5Fs from France could offer several advantages for India:

• Increased fleet strength: Bolstering the number of operational Mirage 2000s.
• Enhanced capabilities: Access to potentially upgraded variants with improved technology.
• Readily available spare parts: Easing maintenance and logistical challenges for existing IAF Mirages.
• Cost-effectiveness: Potentially acquiring these aircraft at a lower cost than newer platforms.

However, any potential acquisition hinges on several factors:

• French government's willingness to sell: France's strategic considerations and export policies will play a key role.
• India's assessment of the aircraft: The IAF will need to evaluate if these specific Mirage 2000-5Fs meet its operational requirements.
• Negotiated price and terms: Reaching a mutually agreeable deal between India and France will be crucial.

While the final outcome remains uncertain, the possibility of India acquiring more Mirage 2000-5Fs highlights the dynamic nature of international arms transfers and the opportunities that can arise from geopolitical shifts.

 

[R. Singh]

Since Tejas-1A are delayed we must buy French,Qatar, Greek Mirage-2000s !

 

[sanket]

This old Mirage-2000 fighter jet has left only 10 years of life with a price tag of just over $60 million per jet. Now, compare what HAL has offered to IAF with 72 brand new Su-30 MKI jets at a price tag of just over $70 million. These 72 Su-30 MKIs can serve for the next 40 to 50 years with further upgrades and heavy weapons integrated, while the Mirage-2000 will not even have PESA radar equipped, plus lacks long-range BVR. HAL's 72 Su-30 MKI offer is much better than buying old Mirage-2000s which are outdated.

 

[Instant Karma]

This old Mirage-2000 fighter jet has left only 10 years of life with a price tag of just over $60 million per jet. Now, compare what HAL has offered to IAF with 72 brand new Su-30 MKI jets at a price tag of just over $70 million.

Also One sukhoi 30 mki is equal to two Mirage 2000 fighters. So each Brand new SU 30 will cost 35 million.

 

[sanket]

Also One sukhoi 30 mki is equal to two Mirage 2000 fighters. So each Brand new SU 30 will cost 35 million.

Just compare combat radius, weapon carrying capacity, upgrade autonomy, plus multi-role capability. Unlike Mirage-2000, which will perform mainly ground attack missions under escort of Mig-29, Su-30 MKI can carry more BVR missiles than Mirage-2000.

 

[Anant]

Also One sukhoi 30 mki is equal to two Mirage 2000 fighters. So each Brand new SU 30 will cost 35 million.

A new Su-30MKI for 35 million? Are you expressing that in Kuwaiti Dinars, because that then works out to about 113.9 million USD, which is still too low.

 

[Instant Karma]

Just compare combat radius, weapon carrying capacity, upgrade autonomy, plus multi-role capability. Unlike Mirage-2000, which will perform mainly ground attack missions under escort of Mig-29, Su-30 MKI can carry more BVR missiles than Mirage-2000.

By that standards, each SU 30 is equal to 4 Mirage 2000. So now the cost is 17.5 million for each SU 30.

 

[abhinav srivastava]

HAL is upgrading mirages. Get them from France, Greece and other countries at reasonable rates. We need to shore up numbers for next 10 -15 years.

 

[Anant]

By that standards, each SU 30 is equal to 4 Mirage 2000. So now the cost is 17.5 million for each SU 30.

The recent acquisition of 12 Su-30MKIs green-lit by the government is pegged at about 110 million USD apiece, and that includes just the airframe and engines. No spares or weapons or support infrastructure.

As for the Super Flanker upgrade, that is costing us around 90 million USD each for the existing airframes. Even if you factor in a new-build jet in the Super Flanker configuration (which would remove some of the redundant equipment that would not be purchased such as the Russian PESA radar), the cost still goes to north of 150 million USD each.

 

[Anant]

HAL is upgrading mirages. Get them from France, Greece and other countries at reasonable rates. We need to shore up numbers for next 10 -15 years.

Unfortunate as it is for the IAF to be acquiring second-hand jets, what you suggest is one of the few viable alternatives. With MRFA stuck up thanks to some overly ambitious folks in the MoD, we may not have other options than to buy a bunch of second-hand jets and keep them going. France, Greece, Qatar, etc. Maybe even the UAE and Taiwan as they start retiring their Mirages.

 

[Instant Karma]

The recent acquisition of 12 Su-30MKIs green-lit by the government is pegged at about 110 million USD apiece, and that includes just the airframe and engines. No spares or weapons or support infrastructure.

As for the Super Flanker upgrade, that is costing us around 90 million USD each for the existing airframes. Even if you factor in a new-build jet in the Super Flanker configuration (which would remove some of the redundant equipment that would not be purchased such as the Russian PESA radar), the cost still goes to north of 150 million USD each.

If we will took into account the capabilities of super sukhoi as compared to the Mirage 2000 old fighters, and as the Super sukhoi will be made in India and most of the money spent will stay in India, the sukhoi fighters will be worth buying and their actual price tag will be way less as mantainance will be done locally.

 

[Deven Korde]

It is upto IAF to decide, whether they want Mirage or SU 30, but they need to decide quickly.

 

[vivek manjeshwar]

Unfortunate as it is for the IAF to be acquiring second-hand jets, what you suggest is one of the few viable alternatives. With MRFA stuck up thanks to some overly ambitious folks in the MoD, we may not have other options than to buy a bunch of second-hand jets and keep them going. France, Greece, Qatar, etc. Maybe even the UAE and Taiwan as they start retiring their Mirages.

Can we upgrade them with Indian GaAs radar and Indian BVRs? As we have Indian uttama ASEA radar instead of isreli Elata 2052 which they didn't want to integrate with mirage 2000, but integration will be very expensive. But with 10-15 years of service life we hardly have any options

 

[shivkumar sinha]

If cost of upgraded mirage -2000 is below $30 millions, it is beneficial for IAF. Otherwise Tejas variants are always better options.

 

[Anant]

Can we upgrade them with Indian GaAs radar and Indian BVRs? As we have Indian uttama ASEA radar instead of isreli Elata 2052 which they didn't want to integrate with mirage 2000, but integration will be very expensive. But with 10-15 years of service life we hardly have any options

Can we? In theory, yes. In practice, its complicated. To upgrade any jet, one needs detailed access to the avionics system and software, which France hasn't shared with anyone as of now for the Mirage 2000. Until we do get that level of access, integrating an Indian GaN or GaAs radar is out of the question. Similarly, while an Indian BVRAAM can be integrated even with French software, that is considerably more expensive to do than if we had software and systems access.

 

[Gary]

Our only option now is to build more SU 30s and get SU 35s from Russia. We should buy more BVRMs from a European company. Pakis ate getting Long range BVRMs from China on their J 10s and also for their J 15s. They are ahead of us. We need to move fast.

 

[Rajesh]

If price permits, we should add whatever Mirage or MiG-29 is available. There is no option left as Mk1a will be delayed thanks to our bureaucracy for not having an option other than F404. MRFA is anyways 5-8 years away even if Viswaguru has a change in heart and goes hyper mode from the incubation period over the files. One option available is to go for more Su-30, especially in the Super 30 upgrade package (can follow the Chinese model by using more composite and if possible with modification to the exposed air intake to the engine blades).

 

[abhinav srivastava]

Unfortunate as it is for the IAF to be acquiring second-hand jets, what you suggest is one of the few viable alternatives. With MRFA stuck up thanks to some overly ambitious folks in the MoD, we may not have other options than to buy a bunch of second-hand jets and keep them going. France, Greece, Qatar, etc. Maybe even the UAE and Taiwan as they start retiring their Mirages.

We need to shore up numbers for next 10-15 years. By next 15 years we will have 4th gen LCA Mk2 in good numbers and AMCA near production. By procuring second hand mirages and upgrading them we can avoid importing/assembling large number of 4th gen jets.
Time to import/assemble 5th gen jets as we won't produce them for next 15 years or so. China already has 5th gen jets, it may provide them to pakistan. We should procure few squadrons of 5th gen jets along with few squadrons of Rafaels instead of 100+ 4th gen Rafales jets.

 

[KK Nag]

I don't understand why India always looks at secondhand fighters. Secondhand fighters are secondhand fighters. They will not stand against newer F-16s, J-20s, and Chinese stealth fighters despite people disparaging those. We should instead pressure the IAF to produce more fighters in India like Tejas and AMCA.