India's Mirage 2000 Dilemma: Strategic Acquisition or Dumping Ground?

The Mirage 2000, a venerable workhorse of the skies, is facing its twilight years as several air forces transition to more advanced platforms. India, with its existing Mirage 2000 fleet and recent Rafale acquisition, finds itself at a crossroads – should it acquire these secondhand jets, or is it becoming a dumping ground for outdated technology?

The Mirage 2000, developed by Dassault Aviation, has been a mainstay in numerous air forces since the 1970s, known for its performance, maneuverability, and adaptability. However, as countries like Greece, Qatar, and the UAE upgrade their fleets with 5th generation fighters, they are seeking to offload their aging Mirage 2000s.

Greece, having recently acquired Rafales, is offering its nearly worn-out Mirage 2000-5s to India, primarily for spare parts. Qatar, also a Rafale operator, is looking to sell its 12 Mirage 2000-5s with significant service life remaining, after failing to secure a deal with Indonesia. The UAE, with its focus on modernization and acquisition of Rafales and potential involvement in the KF-21 program, is also set to phase out its Mirage 2000-9s by 2030.

India, with its existing Mirage 2000 fleet and plans to operate them until 2035, is seen as a potential buyer. While this could be perceived as India becoming a "dumping ground," there are strategic advantages to consider. Acquiring these aircraft could allow India to extend the operational life of its Mirage 2000 fleet, bridging the gap until newer acquisitions and upgrades are ready.

However, the potential downsides include the cost of maintenance and upgrades for aging aircraft, as well as the risk of becoming reliant on outdated technology. India must carefully weigh the benefits against the potential drawbacks before making a decision on these offers.

The Mirage 2000's legacy is undeniable, but its future is uncertain. As air forces modernize, India must decide whether to extend the life of this iconic jet or embrace the next generation of aerial warfare.

 

[sanket]

old Mirage -2000 are not available at throw away price. India should think about Long term view Rather than short term.

Instead of buying this old Mirage-2000 India should buy Su-75 at 40Mn $ to 50 Mn$ with Long term view for next 40 years.if India wont show Interest let see who buys that jets at 66 Mn$ .India should just Ignore that offer.

 

[Anant]

These nations are, in part, offering their aging Mirage 2000s to India in the hopes that they can sell them off as flyable-ish aircraft, get more money out of the sale, and probably finance an extra Rafale or two with the money.

 

[Dredd]

old Mirage -2000 are not available at throw away price. India should think about Long term view Rather than short term.

Instead of buying this old Mirage-2000 India should buy Su-75 at 40Mn $ to 50 Mn$ with Long term view for next 40 years.if India wont show Interest let see who buys that jets at 66 Mn$ .India should just Ignore that offer.

Su-75 is on paper, not even a prototype is developed and it's highly unlikely there will be unless any other country fund its development, Russia still not able to equip its fighter with AESA, modern avionics and better missiles.

 

[Raj]

All others r moving to kf-21,rafale. We r still in amca,tejas mk2 drawing board. Due to decades of negligence , we need fighters on urgent basis not after 10 15yrs. Join hands with some one or purchase few more rafales or find some better way to fill the gaps.

 

[abhinav srivastava]

We are in this situation partly because we delayed LCA MK2 development and MK1A production is progressing at snails pace. Is it a plot to force imports on us?, may be.
At least now expedite MK1A. With minuscule funding of Kaveri jet engines they expect miracles. Once we have put all eggs in import basket. We have to dance to their tune. Do remember delays in F404. For MK2, order/assemble engines well ahead of time.

 

[Naveen Bijoy]

Su-75 is on paper, not even a prototype is developed and it's highly unlikely there will be unless any other country fund its development, Russia still not able to equip its fighter with AESA, modern avionics and better missiles.

What about SU 57

 

[wallisk]

All others r moving to kf-21,rafale. We r still in amca,tejas mk2 drawing board. Due to decades of negligence , we need fighters on urgent basis not after 10 15yrs. Join hands with some one or purchase few more rafales or find some better way to fill the gaps.

Rafale is getting very expensive already! Asking price of Rafale-M is now at 258 millions usd per unit of jet total ops costs! So, logically Rafale F4.2 will be +40 miln usd's at 300 millions usd per unit of jet initial quote!After nego's for 114 jets it might could be come down to perhaps 270 millions usd per jet finally!! So, at this price we must bargain for a make in India of KF21; that is screwdrivering only- as 100% ToT means it will costs 400 millions usd per unit of jet!!

 

[wallisk]

We are in this situation partly because we delayed LCA MK2 development and MK1A production is progressing at snails pace. Is it a plot to force imports on us?, may be.
At least now expedite MK1A. With minuscule funding of Kaveri jet engines they expect miracles. Once we have put all eggs in import basket. We have to dance to their tune. Do remember delays in F404. For MK2, order/assemble engines well ahead of time.

well..... IAF and HAL tried very hard to delay and derail LCA program by manufacturing LSP's soooo slowly and FOC coming only 20 years after 1st flight!! And that too FOC was announced by Def Min and not acknowledged by ACM at that time!

 

[wallisk]

Su-75 is on paper, not even a prototype is developed and it's highly unlikely there will be unless any other country fund its development, Russia still not able to equip its fighter with AESA, modern avionics and better missiles.

Yaaa.. SU75 will be another 30 years program... If TEF are too expensive in MRFA tender, then MoD MUST FORCIBLY allow SEF into finalists list next...

 

[wallisk]

What about SU 57

IAF is looking into it at this moment I saw in you tube.. If dey approve then it will be SU57 for MRFA finally!!

 

[sanket]

Su-75 is on paper, not even a prototype is developed and it's highly unlikely there will be unless any other country fund its development, Russia still not able to equip its fighter with AESA, modern avionics and better missiles.

Su-75 is open Architeture ,it is latest Design Compared to Mirage-2000 Just buy stealth Air Frame & Engine , India can Integrate all other GaN Based Aesa radar/ Uttam Aesa Radarr, Avionics , E/W & Weapons (Indo-Russian Both ).

 

[GMR]

We are in this situation partly because we delayed LCA MK2 development and MK1A production is progressing at snails pace. Is it a plot to force imports on us?, may be.
At least now expedite MK1A. With minuscule funding of Kaveri jet engines they expect miracles. Once we have put all eggs in import basket. We have to dance to their tune. Do remember delays in F404. For MK2, order/assemble engines well ahead of time.

One thing is very clear & like carving on stone... MK1A production can't be expedited and the way IAF & GOI sre pursuing MRFA, it's not happening any sooner either. I will not be surprised if they pull out MIG 21 planes out of retirement just for number purpose.

 

[GMR]

It will not be surprising if IAF pulls out MIG21 planes out of retirement considering our obsession for junks..

 

[Dagger]

Su-75 is open Architeture ,it is latest Design Compared to Mirage-2000 Just buy stealth Air Frame & Engine , India can Integrate all other GaN Based Aesa radar/ Uttam Aesa Radarr, Avionics , E/W & Weapons (Indo-Russian Both ).

there is not one single prototype of Su 75 developed yet, thats the issue. Su- 57 being an established platform still has only 20 units made as of now.
Su 75 will take atleast 15-20 years to come to even the stealth air frame stage. Anyways russia is really bad at stealth air frame, the su 57 has screws showing on its wings

 

[abhinav srivastava]

Tejas MK2, will have its first flight in 2027 and 4 prototypes will be tested and certified. It will not enter IAF before 2035. We need to shore up numbers for next 10-15 years. But these second hand jets should not be costly. There may be lot of work to do on them.

 

[PKPRS]

Su-75 is on paper, not even a prototype is developed and it's highly unlikely there will be unless any other country fund its development, Russia still not able to equip its fighter with AESA, modern avionics and better missiles.

Su-75 uses 90% components and tech of SU-57 that is already inducted in Russian Air Force, do it is theoretically not a paper like TEDBF and AMCA.

 

[PKPRS]

IAF is looking into it at this moment I saw in you tube.. If dey approve then it will be SU57 for MRFA finally!!

it will be toooooooo expensive, SU-75 is best price wise, we can still buy 2-3 squadrons if SU-57 off the shelf.

 

[NSR]

Because whole world knows that Indian defense acquisition officials are bargain basement hunters of 30 to 40 year old junk fighters and force its top gun pilots to fly with 30 to 40 year old engines.
This saga never ends.

Mirage-2000 absolutely and positively is not a air defense fighter as it has no AESA radar or long range BVRAAMs.
It can't even fight against F-16s with AMRAAMs on its own is the correct fact and truth.

 

[Anant]

old Mirage -2000 are not available at throw away price. India should think about Long term view Rather than short term.

Instead of buying this old Mirage-2000 India should buy Su-75 at 40Mn $ to 50 Mn$ with Long term view for next 40 years.if India wont show Interest let see who buys that jets at 66 Mn$ .India should just Ignore that offer.

Let's see: Pay 100 million USD per Su-75, pay 2 billion USD for development (all upfront and non-refundable), wait for a decade, and you might get a fifth generation fighter. Sounds like a good deal?