Mirage upgrade deal by March-end: Air chief

[Veeru]

Mirage upgrade deal by March-end: Air chief

Bangalore, Feb 10 (IANS) India will finalise a deal with France by March-end to upgrade its 51 Mirage-2000 fighter jets, the Indian Air Force (IAF) chief, Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik, said Thursday.

The two countries have finally overcome their differences over the cost of the contract with the French firm Dassault, which is estimated to be $2 billion.

'Yes, there were difficulties, but it is all over now and you will see the result soon,' Naik told reporters at the Yelahanka air base here.

'The negotiations are now successfully concluded. The final report is now with the defence ministry and we expect to conclude the contract by the end of this financial year,' the IAF deputy chief, Air Marshal R.K. Sharma, said.

The IAF operates three squadrons the multi-role fighters that it began inducting in 1987.

Under the upgrade programme, the IAF looks to extend its life by 20 or more years by integrating a modern glass cockpit for better situational awareness, improved avionics, a new electronic warfare suite, sensors and weapons.

The Mirage upgrade is the second such programme for fighter jets in the IAF fleet after a $964 million deal with Russia for 63 MiG-29 air dominance fighters.

Mirage upgrade deal by March-end: Air chief

 

[Paan Singh]

how many deals IAF having in their basket?
month by month they are announcing something different...............
it seems that entire budget is spent on IAF

 

[tallboy123]

Mig-29 are being upgraded,
Mirage
Su-30Mki with Aesa and Brahmos capability
Jags are upgraded with new avionics..
Cool...

 

[Archie]

Mirage upgrade deal by March-end: Air chief

Bangalore, Feb 10 (IANS) India will finalise a deal with France by March-end to upgrade its 51 Mirage-2000 fighter jets, the Indian Air Force (IAF) chief, Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik, said Thursday.

The two countries have finally overcome their differences over the cost of the contract with the French firm Dassault, which is estimated to be $2 billion.

'Yes, there were difficulties, but it is all over now and you will see the result soon,' Naik told reporters at the Yelahanka air base here.

'The negotiations are now successfully concluded. The final report is now with the defence ministry and we expect to conclude the contract by the end of this financial year,' the IAF deputy chief, Air Marshal R.K. Sharma, said.

The IAF operates three squadrons the multi-role fighters that it began inducting in 1987.

Under the upgrade programme, the IAF looks to extend its life by 20 or more years by integrating a modern glass cockpit for better situational awareness, improved avionics, a new electronic warfare suite, sensors and weapons.

The Mirage upgrade is the second such programme for fighter jets in the IAF fleet after a $964 million deal with Russia for 63 MiG-29 air dominance fighters.

Mirage upgrade deal by March-end: Air chief

To me it seems as a last ditch effort to satisfy the French
Coz i think that french wont get mmrca contract

 

[angeldemon_007]

how many deals IAF having in their basket?

This year is big because many trials have finished all-together.
1) 197 light helicopters (may be fennec)
2) 12 heavy lift helicopters.
3) 22 heavy attack helicopters.
4) 6 follow on order for C-130J Super Hercules.
5)12 C17 Globemaster III.
6) 50 Mi-17V-5 follow on order.
7) Follow on order for 3 AWACS (Not sure but its on table).
8) 126 MMRCA.

And of course these are there :

Mig-29 are being upgraded,
Mirage
Su-30Mki with Aesa and Brahmos capability
Jags are upgraded with new avionics..

Apart from this, this year is also good for Navy and Army.
Army will start the induction of artillery. Also Arjun mk2 phase 1 will be tested. FICV decision will be made in a couple of month.
Navy will start selecting the vendors for all the projects cleared in a couple of years like P75I, P17A, P28A. Apart from this Naval aviation will also see the boon with the follow on order of 4 p8I Poseidon, selection of much awaited 60 odd medium multi role helicopters, Hawkeye, Fire Scout helicopter UAV, Selection of Medium range maritime surveillance aircrafts etc.

Lets hope we select as soon as possible, so that we could start the work on the projects because selection process has already delayed man of the deals.

Su-30Mki with Aesa and Brahmos capability

Aesa is not included in that plan. Russia has recently offered it but i am not sure whether it will be selected or not. I think because of cost escalation and unrealistic promises from DRDO govt. is hesitating on purchasing aesa because actually we have a huge demand of aesa and an indigenous project to fulfill it.