Upgraded Mirage 2000’s Multi-Function Displays To Enhance Operational Life By 20 Years

The upgraded Mirage 2000 fighter aircraft will be installed with India-made multi-function displays under Indo-French partnership to enhance operational life of the multi-role fighters by 20 years.

The potential project valued at US $15 million (INR 100 crore) is a joint venture between Samtel Avionics and Thales, (STAL). The JV has rolled out its first batch of multi-function displays for Mirage 2000 upgrade program of the Indian Air Force (IAF) from the newly-commissioned production facility in Greater Noida.

“Samtel Thales Avionics thus becomes the only Indo-French partnership in defense space in India to have a high-technology product in production for a major offset program, and is the only company in India eligible for more Mirage 2000 MLU displays,” an industry source said.

The multi-functional displays are part of the program to upgrade all of India’s Mirage 2000H to Mirage 2000-5 MK2 variant with latest weapon systems and avionics to enhance the operational life of multi-role fighters by around 20 years.

The sources said that the joint venture will also come into play if Thales bags contract for upgrade of Mirage 2000 from anywhere in the world.

The entire project is expected to cost about US $1,5 billion(INR 10,000 crore). Dassault and Thales have handed over two upgraded aircraft to India in March.

The rest of the about 46 aircraft fleet will be upgraded in Bangalore under the responsibility of state-run HAL with the complete support and involvement of Dassault Aviation and Thales, the French firms, who are the original manufacturers.

The upgrade on the aircraft include a night vision goggle-compatible glass cockpit, advanced navigational systems, advanced Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) system, advanced multi-mode multi-layered radar, fully integrated electronic warfare suite besides others. It also includes a new firing system for Air-to-Air MICA missiles.