Indian Air Force to Acquire 24 Second-Hand Mirage-2000 Fighters

Indian Air Force to Acquire 24 Second-Hand Mirage-2000 Fighters

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is proposing to buy 24 second-hand Dassault Aviation Mirage 2000 jets to supplement its ageing fleet of fourth-generation fighters and obtain spare parts for its two current squadrons, according to persons familiar with the subject who spoke on the condition of anonymity. According to the persons stated above, the IAF has signed a deal for 27 million euros to acquire the aircraft, eight of which are in ready-to-fly condition. This equates to a 1.125 million euro acquisition cost per aircraft. According to the sources stated above, the plane would be delivered to India in containers soon. The IAF's 35-year-old Mirage fleet, which performed well during the 2019 Balakot operation, is receiving a mid-life refurbishment, according to the sources, with the imminent requirement for 300 essential parts driving the purchase. According to them, the plane is becoming obsolete in France, therefore IAF head Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhaduaria chose to buy it. 13 of the 24 f…