Why IAF Can't Equip Mirage 2000 Jets with 150km-Range Meteor BVR Missile: Two Key Factors

In a strategic setback for the Indian Air Force (IAF), plans to arm its Mirage 2000 fighter jets with the long-range Meteor air-to-air missile were thwarted in 2019. The manufacturers, Dassault Aviation (Mirage 2000) and MBDA (Meteor missile), declined the integration citing two primary reasons.

Firstly, integrating the Meteor onto the Mirage 2000 platform would have required extensive and costly modifications to the aircraft's systems. Both Dassault and MBDA deemed these modifications to be financially prohibitive.

Secondly, there were concerns about the Mirage 2000's ability to fully leverage the Meteor's capabilities. The advanced technology of the Meteor missile might not have been seamlessly compatible with the older systems on board the Mirage 2000.

The Meteor missile, with its impressive 150 km range and a formidable 100 km "no-escape zone," offers a significant advantage in Beyond Visual Range (BVR) combat scenarios. It is an integral part of the armament package for India's 36 Rafale jets acquired from France.

The deployment of the Meteor on the Rafale is anticipated to significantly shift the regional air power dynamics. Currently, neither China nor Pakistan possesses a comparable missile system, potentially granting the IAF a strategic edge in future aerial engagements.

 

[Akshat]

Kargil was surely won by us but with many lives lost of our braved soldiers!! Leave it apart I am just talking about the role of IAF here!! MoD not giving them funds really??? What a joke when you waste a lot of money on old and absolute jets you can't do anything!!
Rafale can be purchased in large numbers but still MRFA circus going on!!

Indeed. Talk about IAF’s commendable role. How their planes ensured that no PAF fighter can join the fight and how they bombed enemy positions.

Yes. Lack of clearance and funds from MoD. The MRFA/MMRCA you talk of was MoD’s brainchild. IAF simply asked for Mirages. They even chose Rafale but HAL couldn’t close the deal. Then the deal was kept in limbo for years by GoI. CDS’ statements regarding that are in public. Instead, they are being forced to buy planes like Tejas at such exorbitant prices. We could have bought Su30 mki or similar planes for this price. No one in the world wants to buy it but IAF is being forced to buy it.

 

[Anurag]

Indeed. Talk about IAF’s commendable role. How their planes ensured that no PAF fighter can join the fight and how they bombed enemy positions.

Yes. Lack of clearance and funds from MoD. The MRFA/MMRCA you talk of was MoD’s brainchild. IAF simply asked for Mirages. They even chose Rafale but HAL couldn’t close the deal. Then the deal was kept in limbo for years by GoI. CDS’ statements regarding that are in public. Instead, they are being forced to buy planes like Tejas at such exorbitant prices. We could have bought Su30 mki or similar planes for this price. No one in the world wants to buy it but IAF is being forced to buy it.

Still IAF is impressed by Tejas as they say in public directly!! Then who forced to whom can't say!!

 

[Akshat]

Still IAF is impressed by Tejas as they say in public directly!! Then who forced to whom can't say!!

Well they had said that they don’t want to buy beyond 40. Mr. Parikkar then forced them to buy. And no one in the world is ready to buy this jet while they are buying even JF17. So that shows how amazing Tejas is and who is forcing IAF.

 

[PKPRS]

Yes, buying Tejas is good but can you tell me who is making Tejas on time and what's the point of getting that Tejas after 20 years when that tech will be obselete.

Tejas is more advanced than Mirage.