Here Is All About Mirage-2000, IAF's Key Fighter Which Has Been Kicking Pakistan For 20 Years

The Indian Air Force (IAF) entered Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) and dropped a payload of 1000 kg laser-guided bombs to bring down a terror camp to the rubble and once again IAF trusted Mirage-2000, the old warlord IAF has been banking upon for the last 20 years.

Though IAF has new age and competent jets such as Sukkhoi Su-30MKI and MiG-29 apart from Tejas, but the Mirage-2000 that was chosen then in the Kargil War and now again after 20 years.

Also read: Pulwama Avenged: IAF Mirage-2000s Bomb JeM Camps Across LoC, Hapless Pakistan Watches

File: REUTERS

Here are all about this French fighter jet made by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) under the licence from Dassault Aviation- the France fighter jet maker which has been in controversy over Rafale deal.

Also read: How India Reacted To The IAF Air Strike At Terror Camps In Pakistan #IndiaStrikesBack

First inducted in 1985

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The Mirage-2000 was first commissioned in 1985 and soon after the induction, the IAF gave it name-Vajra, which meaning lightening thunderbolt in Sanskrit. The fighter jet first took flight in 1978 and was inducted in French Air Force in 1984.

India bought Mirage-2000 against Pak buying F-16

File picture: reuters

The IAF placed its initial order of 36 single-seater Mirage-2000 and 4 twin seater Mirage-2000 in 1982 against Pakistan¡¯s buying of F-16 from the US.

Played Key role in Kargil

The Mirage-2000 played a key role on 1999 war of Kargil and seeing its capability, the government of India further ordered 10 Mirage-2000 planes in 2004 which took the total number Mirage-2000 in IAF ranks to 50.

Up-gradation started in 2011

In 2011, the IAF signed a contract to upgrade the Mirage-2000 fleet to Mirage 2000-5 Mk, which increased the life of the jets now the upgraded planes can be used till 2020. The Dassault has built over 580 Mirage-2000s over a period of 30 years.

Specifications

The Mirage-2000 is a single shaft engine plane which keep it lighter in comparison to other fighter jets in its segment. It¡¯s engine is called SNECMA M53.

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The engine was first tested in 1970 and surprisingly it was not made for Mirage-2000 jets.

IN 1974, the Dassault first used M53-2 version of the engine in Mirage F1E testbeds and the most of the Mirage-2000 do run on the SNECMA M52-P2 version and is rated 65 kN (15,000lbf) in dry thrust and 95 kN or 21,000 lbf in afterburner.

Single seater, but can be twin-seater

The Mirage-2000 is designed as single-seater fighter pilot but can be made into a twin-seat jet depending on requirements.

Mirage-2000 is 14.36 metre long with a wingspan of 91.4 metre. The plane weighs 7500 kg in dry with a total takeoff weight 17000 kg. The jet has a maximum speed of Mach 2.2 which comes around 2336 kmph and with drop tanks, it can travel at a speed of 1550 kmph.

Apart from IAF, these countries have Mirage-2000

File photo- Reuters

Apart from the IAF, the air forces of France, Egypt, UAE, Peru, Taiwan, Peru, Greece and Brazil have Mirage-2000 in their squadrons.

(With Agencies input)