Picture taken 12 February 2003 of two Indian
Air Force Mirage 2000 fighters taking off during the Indo-France joint air
force excercise at Gwalior, 12 February 2003, in Madhya Pradesh state. (AFP
PHOTO/Prakash SINGH)
NEW DELHI — The upgrade of India’s Mirage 2000-H fleet
could face a roadblock, after the maintenance warranty from original equipment
manufacturers Dassault Aviation and Thales of France expired with nobody willing
to continue footing the bill.
The two companies are demanding an annual maintenance fee
of around $15 million from state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, the prime
contractor on the upgrade, to extend the tooling & test machinery and
equipment warranty that expired last month. HAL is refusing to pay, instead
asking Indian Air Force to make the payments; IAF argues however that the
annual maintenance fee is part the upgrade contract with HAL.
HAL executives refused to comment officially on the
subject, but a company source said the company is pursuing the issue with the
service. HAL is currently undertaking upgradation of 47 Mirage fighters
independently — an effort that kicked off in 2015. Seven aircraft have been
delivered to the IAF thus far.
HAL is currently undertaking upgradation of 47 Mirage
fighters independently, under a contract awarded in 2015. Seven aircraft have
been delivered to the IAF under that deal. India signed $2.1 billion with
Thales and Dassault Aviation in July 2011 for upgradation of 51 Mirage 2000H
upgraded to Mirage 2000-5 version. Under this deal, four aircraft were
upgraded. Two french companies are also supplying new sub-sustems that are
being incorporated into modified Mirage 2000-H aircraft.
A separate $900 million agreement was also singed with
HAL in 2011 to carryout upgradation of the 47 Mirage aircraft in India. Thales
is the lead integrator for the upgrade program, whereas Dassault Aviation is
the OEM and weapons support is provided by MBDA of France.
The upgrade program involves installation of new mission
computers, pulse doppler radars, advanced navigation and electronic warfare
systems, advanced communication systems and identification systems. In
addition, cockpits of Mirage 2000-H are incorporated with two lateral displays,
advanced head down display systems and glass cockpits.
The modification of electronic warfare units involves
installation of new radar warning receiver, missile approach warning receivers,
jammers to track multiple threats simultaneously, counter measure dispensing
systems and escort jammers for jamming surveillance acquisition radars. The
modified aircraft will also be equipped with digital video recorder; data
transfer system and real time simulation management system.
The upgrade of Mirage fleet is aimed at enhancement of
performance and incorporates new weapons, which will provide an expected
increase in total technical life to 40 years from original 25 years. Another
IAF official said the cost of upgrade does not include HAL’s man-hour costs to
upgrade 47 aircraft, which it would undertake with technical assistance from
the French suppliers.
Original post: defensenews.com
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