As part of Centre’s upgrade package for 51 Mirage-2000 multi-role fighters, the original manufacturer Dassault Aviation will upgrade only four aircraft while the remaining 47 will be upgraded at the HAL.

Defence Minister A K Antony, on April 28, informed the Lok Sabha that the Government has signed a billion Euro contract with the fighter’s manufacturer for upgrading the existing three squadrons of Mirage to the level of Mirage-2000-V used by the French Air Force. The process is expected to increase the fighter’s life span by another 25 years.

“After the first four aircraft’ upgradation, the capability will be transferred to HAL where the entire frame will be stripped down. Subsequently the airframe will be rewired and re-equipped,” according to sources. 

The Request for Proposal (RFP) has been issued to Dassault on April 9 after clearance from the Cabinet committee on security. The manufacturer, along with other industry partners and HAL, is in the process of finalising the details.

While the final proposal is yet to be submitted to the Defence Ministry, it is expected to have 30 per cent offset component in which the French company will have to reinvest a part of their package in India.

New company

A new joint venture company floated by another French military firm, Thales and Indian display unit Samtel, is expected to play a major role in fulfiling the offset obligations coming out of the Mirage upgrade package.

The JV will design, develop and manufacture various helmet mounted sights and displays using French technology for the Indian Air force.  The initial investment in the JV for the first three years is Rs 60 crore.

While Samtel, which in the past had developed displays for Su-30 fighter jets in collaboration with DRDO, has 74 per cent equity in the JV, Thales owns the rest. Both are already partners for the cockpit displays for the soon-to-be acquired carrier-borne MiG-29 K fighters.