The signing of the contract for the upgrade of Indian Mirage 2000 fleet occurred in July 2011. The maiden flight of its first upgraded Mirage 2000 was completed successfully by Dassault Aviation on the October 5, 2013, following a two-year development phase dedicated to the equipment kit provided by Thales including the radar, the electronic warfare suite, and the mission computer.
The Rafale aircraft has been chosen by India after a comprehensive selection process in the frame of the MMRCA competition, and exclusive negotiation is ongoing. The Rafale is the next logical step. HAL and Indian industries will contribute to the ‘Make in India’ policy by developing and manufacturing the aircraft locally.
“The Rafale will fulfill all of the operational requirements of the Indian Air Force and the industrial requirements of India’s economic policy as the Mirage 2000 continues to do,” declared Eric Trappier, chairman & CEO of Dassault Aviation.
