News for Mirage-2000 upgrade

[foxhound]

Salaam!

News update:


HAL, Dassault to Perform Avionics, Weaponization Upgrades to Indian Air Force Mirage 2000 Fleet

Ref: http://www.india-defence.com/reports-3251
Dated 28/5/2007
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HAL and Dassault are all set to sign a $800 million deal for a comprehensive upgrade of the Indian Air Force Mirage 2000 fleet which boasts of over 50 fighter jets.

The upgrades include:

-- New avionics, including an advanced navigation system, mission computers, Mil 1553 B data with Digibus, a pulse doppler radar that can find objects out to 70 nautical miles

-- Two displays and an advanced head-down display in a glass cockpit

-- Electronic warfare systems, including new radar warning receivers with instantaneous wide-bank receivers, an integrated missile warning receiver with continuous time-to-impact information, and new jammers and countermeasure systems

-- Increased fuel capacity

-- Four Derby beyond-visual-range missiles

-- Two short-to-medium-range Python V missiles

-- Long-range smart munitions

-- Full mission simulators

The upgraded aircraft will have a warranty of 24 months or 360 operational hours.

'DefenseNews' Reports
Dassault will upgrade the first two Mirages in France, where HAL engineers will participate in the work. The new avionics, to be bought from Israel, will be installed on the Mirages at HAL facilities in India.

The remaining 50 Mirages will be upgraded in India with technical help from Dassault, the Defence Ministry official said.

A HAL executive said Dassault's agreement to train HAL engineers in France is the first of its kind for India.

HAL, India's sole aircraft manufacturer, will remain the prime contractor for the contract and will be responsible for the overall combat-worthiness of India’s Mirage fleet, the Defence Ministry official said.

Dassault will receive 60 percent of the cost of all the Mirage hardware.

The Indian Air Force will also be involved in the upgrade, the Defence Ministry official said, but not with the purchase of the upgrade hardware, a condition the Air Force had earlier insisted upon.

 

[Adux]

Pact for Mirage 2000 upgrade
16 Jul 2007, 1319 hrs IST,IANS
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BORDEAUX (FRANCE): With the Indian government set to ask for proposals to upgrade its fleet of Mirage 2000 fighters, French defence and aerospace company Thales will soon enter into a pact with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) to jointly bid for the project, top officials said here.

Thales has also committed itself to a 30 percent offsets clause for the upgrade, unlike some purchases in the past like Russia's Sukhoi-30s and MI-17 choppers in which upgrades were taken as part of the original deal, the officials added.

"I think, things are finally moving forward," said Jean-Paul Perrier, executive vice president for the $17-billion French giant, referring to the government's intention since two years ago to upgrade its fleet of 51 Mirage 2000 fighters.

"We have the full knowledge and the solutions for a low-risk and cost-effective upgrade of Mirage 2000. Thales will also cooperate with Indian and other French industries for the project," Perrier said.

Apart from HAL, other Indian companies that are expected to partner with Thales in the upgrade project include the Department of Aviation Research and Bharat Electronics Ltd that has had a long association with the French company.

The Thales-HAL consortium will include Dassault, which shut down the production line for Mirage 2000s five years ago. Dassault is also in the race to sell 126 multi-role combat aircraft, Renault , to India to replace the MiG-21 fleet.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) had approached Thales in 2005 for upgrading the avionics of Mirage 2000 as also its fleet-operational capability and the air-to-air and the air-to-ground missile superiority for taking on multiple targets.

The upgrade features will include multi-target, multi-mode radar, multi-channel digital video and data recording, mission data processing unit, mass memory, LCD glass cockpit and improved tactical and long-range weapon firing.

"The upgrade will also enhance and extend the weapon stealth and operations with additional capabilities to engage ground targets even while countering airborne threats," said Frederic Andre, director for Thales Mirage retrofit programme.

At present, eight countries, including India, fly Mirage 2000s. They are Egypt, France, Greece, Peru, Qatar, Taiwan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Of them, France, Greece and the UAE have opted for Thales upgrades.

Officials from Thales and the defence ministry have discussed the finer points of the upgrade to increase the lifespan of the aircraft, which were inducted by the IAF in the 1980s, by around 20-25 years, officials said.

"If we are given the go ahead today, we should be able to retrofit the first set of two aircraft in two years - modified and qualified," Andre said. "Then, based on what the Indian government wants, we can look at two-three aircraft a month."

The aerospace giant has provided avionics and other high-technology systems to most planes flown by the IAF, like the Mirage 2000, SU-30 and MIG-29K, as also for aircraft carrier Gorshkov.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Pact_for_Mirage_2000_upgrade/articleshow/2206976.cms

 

[ejaz007]

India May Announce Mirage Deal During French Visit ​

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

NEW DELHI — India is set to announce that France will be the sole bidder for a contract worth up to 1.5 billion euros to upgrade its Mirage fighters.
"We are expecting an announcement from India on Friday that they will soon launch a tender reserved for French companies," said Francois Dupont, India director for French defense firm Thales.
The Indian air force has 51 Mirage-2000 warplanes, made by Dassault Aviation with electronics from Thales, which need a major upgrade. But the deal is not likely to be signed before the end of the year.
The announcement is expected to come during a visit by French President Nicolas Sarkozy. The trip was originally meant to seal another deal, a $600 million Indian purchase of 197 helicopters from Eurocopter. That deal was canceled last month.
"What really has miffed France is the scrapping of the helicopter deal," said Kapil Kak, director of the Centre for Air Power Studies, a private think tank.
The defense ministry has not said publicly why the deal was pulled, but senior defense sources have alleged that Eurocopter used a local go-between, despite an Indian ban on the use of middlemen in such deals.
Sarkozy is now expected to push Eurocopter’s case ahead of a fresh tender process that will give U.S. firm Bell another stab at the contract.
France’s history if potential contracts with India is shaky. It had been the second-largest major arms supplier to India after Russia, with sales touching nearly 4 billion euros ($5.8 billion) in 2005, until being overtaken by Israel.
"The Indian market is difficult, not just for France but for everybody," said a European defense industry source, who asked not to be named. He added that Sarkozy’s visit would determine whether France is "to boost, or not, its business in the next five years."
France lost out to the British on a 2004 contract worth $1.4 billion to supply 66 trainer jets to India, the biggest weapons buyer among emerging nations, which is set to spend $30 billion between 2007 and 2012.
India’s decision in 2006 to buy six Franco-Spanish Scorpene submarines worth $3 billion has also run into choppy waters. Last month, an Indian court ordered police to complete an investigation into allegations that $100 million in bribes were paid.
France is also in a race with U.S. and Russian rivals to grab a $10-billion-plus contract to sell 126 fighter jets to India, but is seen as lagging behind, with its Rafale fighter considered to be too pricey.
Dupont said France’s Dassault Aviation would put in an "excellent bid" before bidding closes in March.
Thales is part of a consortium with Dassault and missile-maker MBDA backing the Rafale, which has not been sold outside France.
With the tender process expected to take years, Dassault made an unsolicited offer last year to sell India 40 Rafales, but did not get a response, according to a company spokesman.
Kak said although there were "ominous signs" for the defence contract relationship, he predicted the two sides would find solutions during Sarkozy’s visit.
Retired Indian air force chief N.K. Sareen also said India could not afford to shut France out totally.
"India must keep all its options open ... as interdependence is the punchline of the 21st century," Sareen said. "We must also keep in mind they stood by us in 1998," he added, referring to France’s refusal to back U.S.-led sanctions after India carried out a series of nuclear weapons tests a decade ago.
DefenseNews.com - India May Announce Mirage Deal During French Visit - 01/23/08 11:04

 

[KENT]

Seems to me that upgradation of IAF's existing fleet is on full swing. Every other day some news about Indian defence segment is getting published. Good sign for Indian Defence Industry.

 

[mujahideen]

Seems to me that upgradation of IAF's existing fleet is on full swing. Every other day some news about Indian defence segment is getting published. Good sign for Indian Defence Industry.

Indeed. India is upgrading its Armed Forces.

 

[Energon]

Indeed. India is upgrading its Armed Forces.

They have no choice. Years of bureaucratic indifference, sanctions and corruption scandals have left the military technology severely outdated and prone to breakdowns. The IAFs vintage aircrafts are being pushed to the max way beyond their shelf life resulting in numerous tragedies.

 

[su-47]

They have no choice. Years of bureaucratic indifference, sanctions and corruption scandals have left the military technology severely outdated and prone to breakdowns. The IAFs vintage aircrafts are being pushed to the max way beyond their shelf life resulting in numerous tragedies.

how true. our politicins almost drove our defence industry into the ground. now we are finally coming up.

with china gearing up we also need to upgrade our armed forces to ensure our interests are protected

 

[Proud to be Pakistani]

Right now i think they are not upto M2K-9 standard or are they?

They are upto M2K-5 Standard!

 

[blain2]

Right now i think they are not upto M2K-9 standard or are they?

They are upto M2K-5 Standard!

No currently IAF M2Ks are nowhere close to even M2K-5 standard. M2K-9 is not a specific variant. It is what got sold to UAEAF based on their requirements.

The above upgrade would get them to the M2K-5 or some other customized version.

 

[Contrarian]

HAL teams with Dassault in deal to upgrade Indian Mirage 2000s
By David Donald

February 19, 2008

Following the successful Mirage 2000 update programs in Greece and the United Arab Emirates, Dassault and Thales have joined forces with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) to provide a similar upgrade for the Indian air force’s Mirage fleet. India received 95 first-generation Mirage 2000 fighters in varying configurations and has found the type a very useful asset over the years. In addition to air-to-air roles, the Mirage has served as a precision bomber, carrying ATLIS II designation pods to deliver laser-guided bombs. In this role it saw action in the Kargil conflict in 1999.

In early July 2007, Dassault, Thales and HAL signed a partnership deal, submitting an offer to the Indian air force covering a Mirage 2000 upgrade immediately afterward. The proposed upgrade is based on the RDY-2 radar and is an adaptation of the existing 2000-5 Mk 2 and 2000-9 configurations, albeit with provisions to integrate existing and planned Indian equipment. The team must respond to an official request for information by the end of this month, following which the Indian government will decide whether to proceed. According to vice president, electronic combat solutions at Thales Aerospace, Gérard Christmann, that decision is expected toward the end of this year or early in 2009.

UAE Program
On September 28 last year the United Arab Emirates air force took delivery of the last of 62 Dassault Mirage 2000-9s. Abu Dhabi first ordered the Mirage 2000 in May 1983, receiving its first aircraft in November 1989 to equip two squadrons at Al Dhafra.

The initial purchase covered 22 single-seat Mirage 2000EADs, eight reconnaissance-capable 2000RADs and six 2000DAD two-seaters, collectively known as “SAD8” aircraft.

After nearly a decade of successful service, the UAE military decided to increase and enhance the Mirage fleet. Following a protracted evaluation, the government opted to acquire a second batch of Mirages in the latest Dash 9 configuration (“SAD91/92”).

Regarded as the most capable Mirage 2000 variant in service, the Dash 9 is a collaboration among Dassault (airframe), Snecma (engine) and Thales (avionics/systems). Thales supplied a new mission system, built around a new mission computer and the RDY-2 multimode radar. The cockpit was overhauled radically with new Thales color displays, while the company also supplied a new navigation unit, electrical generation and distribution system, radio altimeter, UHF radio and IFF system. It installed a very capable integrated modular electronic warfare suite, comprising Thales radar warning receiver and high-band jammer, integrated with Elettronica low-band jammer. The IMEWS not only provides self-defense, but also acts as an accurate electronic intelligence and targeting system.

For low-level night flying and precision weapons delivery, the 2000-9 carries the Thales Optronics Nahar forward-looking infrared pod under one of the intakes, partnered on the other side by a Thales Shehab laser designation pod. The latter is a derivative of the Damocles system now fielded on the French air force Mirages. A separate armament deal covers the supply of MBDA MICA air-to-air missiles and the Black Shaheen precision-guided conventional cruise missile, a variant of the Scalp/Storm Shadow in service in France and the UK. Outside the main Dash 9 contract, the UAE has requested a proposal from Dassault to integrate a centerline reconnaissance pod.

Greek Update
Meanwhile, the Dassault-led team is continuing to provide upgrade kits for Mirage 2000s for the Greek air force, with work being undertaken by Hellenic Aerospace Industry.

On November 26 last year, Dassault delivered the last of 15 new-build Mirage 2000-5 Mk 2s to the air force in a ceremony held at Tanagra. The aircraft was the last of 601 Mirage 2000s to be built before the production line closed. Like the UAE, Greece also opted to upgrade some of its existing first-generation aircraft, adding 10 upgrade kits for a total of 25 Mirage 2000-5s.

Greece initially bought 36 Mirage 2000EG single-seaters and four 2000BG two-seaters. They were ordered in July 1985 and deliveries began in March 1988. Interest in a follow-on order for second-generation 2000-5 Mk 2s was confirmed in April 1999 and formalized on Aug. 21, 2000. The first of the 25 second-generation jets was delivered in 2004.

Taiwanese Mirages Are Capable, but Costly
Taiwan is the only country in East Asia flying French warplanes. Unlike India and the United Arab Emirates, Taiwan is unlikely to get an upgrade that would confer multimission capability on the Mirage 2000s of the Republic of China Air Force (ROCAF). When the aircraft were delivered in the mid-1990s, they were equipped only for air-to-air combat, in deference to mainland China. Even so, the sale of the 60 Mirage 2000-5s to Taiwan stirred bitter protests from Beijing. France has not sold any defense equipment to Taiwan since then.

Nevertheless, Dassault, Thales and Snecma still support the aircraft, which are based at Hsinchu on Taiwan’s west coast. They were supplied to the same standard as France’s own upgraded interceptors, with the RDY radar, internal ECM and M53 P20 engines. Every year, a small team from the French air force visits Hsinchu to advise on new tactics and procedures. But Taiwan defense sources told AIN that spares for the Mirages were very expensive–a charge that has also been made by other countries that fly Dassault fighters.

HAL teams with Dassault in deal to upgrade Indian Mirage 2000s: AINonline

 

[Energon]

This article says that India has received 95 Mirage2000s; I was under the impression that the IAF has only acquired about 49.

 

[Contrarian]

Your impression is correct

 

[Khalsa]

India signs deal to upgrade 51 Mirage fighters


NEW DELHI, APR 28 (PTI)
As part of steps to keep the country's air power capability at optimal level, India has signed a billion-Euro deal to upgrade its 51 Mirage Multi-Role Fighters.

Dassault, the French original equipment manufacturer, has agreed to upgrade the Indian Air Force's Mirage 2000 fleet, Defence Minister A K Antony told Lok Sabha today.

Antony said the Request For Proposal (RFP) had been issued to Dassault on April 9 after clearance of the Cabinet Committee on Security.

IAF is currently flying three squadrons of the Mirage fighters and under new plans, Indian Mirages will be upgraded to the level of French Air Force Mirage 2000-5 with superior avionics and extend their lifespan by another 25 years.

This is the second major upgradation deal signed by India in recent weeks. Earlier, IAF had entered into an agreement with Russia's MIG-RAC for upgradation of 63 MIG-29 air superiority fighters in a deal worth 964 million dollars.

The upgradation of the country's frontline fighters is being taken up by the government against the backdrop of alarming depletion in the IAF's squadron strength which has plunged from 39 fighter squadrons to just 32.

 

[ejaz007]

I have one question. Wouldn't it be better to purchase new Mirage 2000-5 instead of going for modifications to the existing. Assuming that one Mirage 2000 costs EUR 30 million (I don't know the exact price but considering it is older plane than Griphen and French haven't had much luck with big orders lately I think this is safe price) 50 planes would cost around 1.5 billion Euros. Isn't this better option. The planes would be brand new with better life span and IAF can replace all existing planes with new ones when they become operational.

 

[indiapakistanfriendship]

I have one question. Wouldn't it be better to purchase new Mirage 2000-5 instead of going for modifications to the existing. Assuming that one Mirage 2000 costs EUR 30 million (I don't know the exact price but considering it is older plane than Griphen and French haven't had much luck with big orders lately I think this is safe price) 50 planes would cost around 1.5 billion Euros. Isn't this better option. The planes would be brand new with better life span and IAF can replace all existing planes with new ones when they become operational.

Good question mate. The answer is simple , there are no new Mirages available in the market, Dussault has closed the line for Mirage. Infact the whole MRCA issue is due to the non availability of Mirage. Around 2000-01 IAF had initially wanted 126 Mirage, but however the MOD dragged the issue long enough for Dssault to close the Mirage line so that they can work on Rafale and then was born the competition for MRCA,