IAF’s Mirage-2000 upgrade: A bitter pill to swallow

The Indian Air Force’s plans to upgrade its fleet of 51 Mirage-2000 H to Mk-2 standards for a whooping $2.2 billion  has come across lot of criticism. Even certain IAF staff feel that the upgrade should not go ahead. Primary reason for the same is the high price charged by Dassault Aviation. Some argue that India is better off buying new fighters at this price. Other reasons include no structural changes and improvements or new engines. Also India will have to buy the MBDA MICA missile (450 of them) for around Rs.5000 crore which is not included in upgrade price.

But given the fact of declining aircraft strength of the Indian Airforce and rapid improvement in capabilities of its rivals more particularly China, India has no other option but to go for the upgrade. The upgrade will make the Mirage-2000 comparable to the most advance American fighters like the F-16 Block-60 and F/A-18 Super Hornet. Improvements like the helmet mounted display, full digital cockpit, better EW capabilty, etc. If India wants to have the same capability by buying new jets than it will have to spend almost $4-5 billion, that twice what it is spending now. Ofcourse the aircraft will last twice as long but new aircrafts will take time which India can’t afford. The upgrade is expected to be finished  by 2015. Also the upgraded Mirage-2000′s will be in service till 2035 which is approximately the same time frame from when 4th generation technology will start becoming obsolete.

France is a very smart country who plays her cards right (but still rarely wins the game), they  know that India will have to upgrade the Mirage-2000′s. They are also very desperate to sell the Rafale which is front runner for the mammoth MMRCA tender. Dassault Aviation has played it smart by charging extensively high for the Mirage deal which it had in its bag since the start. I won’t be surprised if  they charge relatively much lower for the Rafael in MMRCA to ensure it has a overwhelming price advantage over the Eurofighter Typhoon. Also the MBDA MICA’s are compatible with the Rafael. Whatever it is, India will have to swallow that bitter pill.