India’s Fighter Upgrades: Mirage 2000s Next?
In an effort to offset the growing number of combat aircraft retirements due to age, India is engaged in a round of fighter fleet upgrades. In December 2006, India Defence reported that the Indian Air Force was “close to finalizing” a EUR 1.5 billion (about $2 billion) deal to upgrade its fleet of 51 Mirage-2000 ‘Vajra’ fighter jets.
The aim is to give the aircraft, inaugurated into IAF service in 1985-1988, another 20-25 years of service life. Of course, “close” means something very different in Indian defense circles than it does in other countries. Almost 2 years later, the deal remains “close”. There are reports that Prime Minister Singh’s Paris visit will see a deal signed, even as Indian troops led France’s Bastille Day parade….
MICA: Radar or IR
(click to view full)Word is that the upgrade will bring India’s Mirages to the full Mirage 2000v5 Mk 2 standard, including a new RDY-3 radar with greater air-air and air-ground capability, a new all-digital cockpit, and improved electronic warfare systems. These will be tied into a joint tactical information data link system (JTIDS, usually Link 16 compatible but not always), plus helmet-mounted sights for off-bore-sight heat-seeking missiles. As part of the upgrade, the aircraft will also be equipped with MBDA’s Mica family of medium range missiles.
MBDA will probably be unamused by India Defence’s December 2006 description of its wares as “an advanced medium-range missile that is the French counterpart to the more capable American AMRAAM missile.” As DID’s AMRAAM coverage noted, while the MICA’s radar-guided version has mediocre range, it also has a heat-seeking IR version that offers a potent medium range ‘no warning’ targeting option. MICA would replace India’s existing radar-guided Super 350 MRAAM and Magic-II short-range infared missiles, offering better performance and range.
Work on the upgrades would be performed by a French-Indian consortium including Dassault (aircraft manufacturer), Thales (weapons systems integrator), MBDA (missiles) and India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.