IAF’s Upgraded Mirage-2000 Completes First Maiden Flight

The Indian Air Force’s first of 49 upgraded Mirage 2000 aircraft completed its maiden flight in France.

Dassault Aviation will upgrade the rest of the Mirage fleet under an approximately $1 billion modernization program.  

"The upgraded Mirage 2000 has successfully completed its maiden flight on schedule as envisaged by the campaign programme," Dassault Aviation said in a release. 

India took delivery of the Mirage-2000 in the 80’s and decided to upgrade the aircraft last year this extending the lifespan of the aircraft by 15 years.

Dassault is currently in the midst of a multi-billion dollar deal for supplying 126 Rafale combat aircraft to India. According to reports, that deal will not be signed until March 2014 although Dassault hopes to by the end of this year.