France and India Look to deepen defence ties

The Indian government's long-delayed green light to French defence majors Dassault and Thales to undertake the Mirage-2000 combat fighter upgrade is yet another indicator of New Delhi forging stronger strategic links with Paris. 

Over the last decade, French defence vendors have bagged, or are the leading contenders to win a number lucrative Indian arms contracts, including the $11-billion medium, multi-role combat aircraft tender for 126 aircrafts for the Indian Air Force, and the estimated $2.4-billion Mirage-2000 upgrade. 

India approves $2.4 bn French Mirage jet upgrade

India has approved a $2.4-billion proposal from French defence groups to upgrade its fleet of 51 ageing Mirage fighter jets, a military source said on Thursday.

"The defence secretary has agreed to the proposal put forward by French defence majors Dassault and Thales and (European group) MBDA for the Mirage-2000 retrofit," the source in the Indian Air Force (IAF) told AFP.

The upgrade is expected to include advanced navigation systems, mission computers, electronic warfare systems and radars.

The work is likely to take nine years and will see two of the Mirages being retro-fitted in France. The remaining aircraft will be upgraded at the state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics base in Bangalore. 

The Deal had been stuck for five years due to differences over costs and the proposed benefits to the IAF, the Press Trust of India news agency said.

Overhaul of the fleet will add 20-25 years to the life of the Mirages, which joined the Indian air force in the mid-1980s.

India to Modernise Mirage 2000 Fighter Aircraft Fleet

Indian MoD approves $2.4 billion upgrade contract for Dassault, Thales and MBDA

With another recently approved multi-billion dollar defence contract, India is giving its armed forces modernisation efforts a significant push. According to AFP, Defence Secretary Shri Pradeep Kumar approved the offer by leading French defence companies Dassault and Thales, as well as by the European MBDA group, to upgrade India’s ageing fleet of Mirage 2000 ‘Vajra’ fighter aircraft at a cost of some $2.4 billion. 

See Detail