Indian Air Force's Mirage-2000 fighter

The Mirage-2000 is an older plane and was used extensively by the IAF in the Kargil war. Indian Air Force is sending a team to France to inspect the two fighter jets

New Delhi: As the Rafale controversy rages, an Indian Air Force team is headed to France early next month to "inspect" a gift from the French government of two Dassault-made Mirage-2000 aircraft. With the Rafale deal done for 36 fighter jets, France has offered India two Mirage-2000 fighter planes, virtually free-- at a very nominal cost.

The Mirage-2000 is an older plane and was used extensively by the IAF in the Kargil war. With the defence ministry clearing the project, the IAF is sending an inspection team headed by a squadron leader to have a look at the "quality" of the planes.

The team will be going to Chateaudun French air force base, not far from Paris for the first look at the aircraft. India has in principle accepted the offer and the inspection will be to judge the quality. If everything goes as expected, the IAF will have two additional Mirage-2000 fighter to the 50 odd it currently has.

The air force could fly these planes for a while, depending on how serviceable they are. And that will be decided by the inspection. Then, these two could be broken up for spares. This too is of great importance as the IAF is likely to face a spares shortage of the Mirage-2000 in the future as the manufacture of the plane by Dassault is winding down.