Article Posted on : - Mar 26, 2015

The Mirage 2000 fighter of the Indian Air Force. A Dassault photo

ISTRES, FRANCE (PTI): French defence major Dassault Aviation on Wednesday handed over the first two upgraded Mirage 2000 fighter aircraft with advanced navigational, radar and missile systems to India.

The entire fleet of 48 aircraft is being upgraded with the help of Dassault Aviation and Thales under a Rs 10,000 crore deal signed in July 2011.

The upgraded Mirage comes with advanced navigational, radar and missile system besides a fully integrated electronic warfare suite. The mid-life upgrade is expected to extend the life cycle of the aircraft by another 10-15 years.

While the deal was signed for 51 aircraft, at least four have crashed since then.

Company's CEO Eric Trappier underlined his company's contribution to the Narendra Modi-led government's 'Make in India' policy and said the Mirage upgrade programme would serve it as the rest of the fleet would be upgraded in Bengaluru and his firm and Thales would offer their complete support.