Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021

[sanman]

The Air Force's own statement (rather carelessly imo) uses the word "militants" instead of terrorists, There is a difference between the two and we need to make sure it's clear that these are foreign sponsored armed terrorists attacking our forces and not just some anti government militants

As far as I'm concerned they're all terrorists - some are just Pak-controlled and some are not.

[srai]

Vehicles for troop transport need to have some level of bulletproofing.

[ramana]

One lesson from Russian conversion of dumb bombs.

India should look at similar solution for the large number of 1000 lb bombs with IAF.

Sudarshan was not very good solution.
DRDO has the GPS chips and MING that can be used.
Besides 1000 lb are inexpensive to make.

[mody]

One lesson from Russian conversion of dumb bombs.

India should look at similar solution for the large number of 1000 lb bombs with IAF.

Sudarshan was not very good solution.
DRDO has the GPS chips and MING that can be used.
Besides 1000 lb are inexpensive to make.

DRDO has developed the PGHSLD, which is basically a guidance kit for HSLD bombs. I think even the G-series bombs might offer a solution for wings and guidance kit to be added to legacy dumb bombs.

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/singhshwetabh71/status/17 ... 4252725453 ---> Found two pictures of our AH-64 Apaches with not only Hellfires and Hydra 70, but also one ATAS Stinger on wing tips (top mount). In this configuration - if it ever goes with this - the Apache will have a A2G and limited A2A capability, especially against slow moving aerial targets.



https://x.com/singhshwetabh71/status/17 ... 7358604517 ---> In case you are wondering where exactly.

[wig]

https://greekreporter.com/2024/06/12/in ... %20reports.

India Mulls Greece’s Offer to Buy Old Mirage 2000 Fighters By Tasos Kokkinidis June 12, 2024
excerpted

India is considering the offer from Greece to buy the French-made Mirage 2000 fighters that have been phased out by the Hellenic Airforce.
The offer is being seriously considered in New Dehli as the offer price is reasonable and comes with spares, including engines and air-to-air weapons, India’s Times Now reports.
According to the report Greece’s offer amounts to Rs 500 crores per plane, which is roughly less than $7 million. A source told the Indian outlet that “it is a steal”. India is also considering buying the phased-out Mirage 2000 from Qatar.
Greece currently has 24 Mirage 2000 fighter jets and has offered 18 Mirage-2000s. These are older planes and they can be broken up and used for spares.

[srai]

^^^
India takes too long to make decisions. These Greek ones may end up with Ukraine AF instead if the GoI/MoD/IAF take too long to purchase them.

MRFA or bust

[Rakesh]

The way MoD and Air HQ low-balled the Qataris for their Mirage 2000s, even $7 million per plane might be too much for them! Some bright bulb might ask for ONLEE $7 dollars per plane, considering they are using them as Christmas trees.

Lets see if the ball actually gets rolling and they acquire these Mirage 2000s from Greece.

[Rakesh]

I am posting the entire article, because the link below is popping up many ads and it is hard to navigate.

Here we go again I don't know how much of the below is true...but FWIW....

Indian Air Force Eyes Mirage-2000 Fighters From Qatar, Greece To Boost Its Strength
https://www.timesnownews.com/india/indi ... -110933302
12 June 2024

For the Indian Air Force (IAF), desperately short of fighters (currently at 31 squadrons instead of the 40), temporary relief may be at hand with Qatar offering it 12 little-used Mirage-2000-5 fighters. A team headed by a Group Captain (equivalent to a Colonel in the Army) is likely to visit Doha in the coming weeks to assess the aircraft. The offer is being seriously considered as the offer price is reasonable and it comes with spares, including engines, "testers" and importantly, air-to-air weapons like the MICA. Each aircraft, including the additional engines, spares and weapons come to less than Rs 500 crores, a steal, according to sources. The fighters haven't been used much-- they have 30 percent of their life, approximately 1,500 hours of flying in them and the Indian ability of "jugaad" could extend their life even further. This, when the indigenous LCA-Mark 1A deliveries may be slightly delayed and the purchase of 12 Sukhoi-30MKI fighters the government has cleared is still going through discussions, is a bonus.

The fact that India has about 50 Mirage-2000s helps, as the Qatari plane is the 2000-5, an upgraded version, but not very different to fly or maintain. So, for the pilots and engineers it will not be a greatly different plane, and not much additional training is necessary. The Mirage-2000 has a good record, having been used in the Kargil war and later, the attack on a Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist training camp in Balakot, deep inside Pakistan. The Mirage-2000 was again used when the Pakistan Air Force attacked Indian armed force bases in India the day after the Balakot attack. The only concern is the fact that, according to reports, Pakistan appears to be interested in the aircraft. As a result, decision-making, if the aircraft are found to be suitable, will have to be quick. For, Pakistan, regardless of its economic distress, always has funds for its armed forces.

GREEK DEFENCE COOPERATION

Meanwhile, Michel Spinellis, a senior Greek defence ministry official, will be in New Delhi to discuss closer military ties with India. Greece is already a strategic partner and they have offered 18 Mirage-2000s. These are older planes and they can be broken up and used for spares. Initial reports suggest that some of the 18 can be purchased and India has asked the Greeks for an offer. The Greeks may suggest a joint offer to the French to buy Rafales. India has 36 and the Hellenic Air Force, 24. Ordering more Rafales jointly could lead to a slight reduction in price and also, early delivery, the Greeks argue. Both offers from Qatar, a country from which India has purchased enormous quantities of natural gas and Greece, already a close friend, are welcome, particularly because fighter strength is plummeting. The Qatari jets is the equivalent of 60 - 65% of a squadron, something the IAF badly needs.

[Rakesh]

Qatar and tsp are same friendship wise. We have more chance of China selling us j31 than Qatar selling us M2k.
Please can we have some mature conversation.

^^^^^^^^^
Thank you Fanne for introducing a dose of realism here..

Qatar is holding 8 veterans hostage, and we have people bloviating here about sourcing M 2000s from there...

Gentlemen, in the world of Geopolitics, never say never. See post above

The sale of the Qatari M2Ks to Indonesia fell through and they are back again on the international market.

[SBajwa]

Admiral Rakesh !

Pakistan is also looking to get these Qatari Mirage-2000's but they don't have money.

[fanne]

Admiral, I will be happy to be proven wrong. There is still this little matter of actually getting the Qatari Mirages. Wishing, willing, planning (or not planning), asking, threatening, moving files, AON, dossiers, etc., if they had really counted, we would have been superpower, nay galactic power!!

[fanne]

Having said that, 12 Qatari Mirages would be welcome addition, we can go for another sq. We had some 12 mirages in flyable condition that we got from France (along with many non flyable ones for spare parts). The Mirage spare eco system was extended by 10 years (because French want to have them for another 10 years, perhaps for Ukraine). We would have a history of spare part consumption. We should be proactive and stock up on the spares, planning for keeping these Mirages for another 15-20 years. The only spanner I believe is if we somehow figure out production of Tejas with Kaveri (we will be limited by GE to no more than 20 planes a year, if that).

[Rakesh]

Admiral, I will be happy to be proven wrong. There is still this little matter of actually getting the Qatari Mirages. Wishing, willing, planning (or not planning), asking, threatening, moving files, AON, dossiers, etc., if they had really counted, we would have been superpower, nay galactic power!!

Saar, the point of my post was not to prove you or anyone wrong. Rather to highlight the relationship turn around from last year. There was much more to the jailing of the ex-Indian Navy personnel, than what was reported in the media. In time, perhaps the full story might come out.

Whether the IAF gets its hands on the Qatari Mirages or not, is a moot point. There is a well known saying ---> In Geopolitics...there are no friends, only interests. Qatar needs to offload these Mirages to whoever has got the money to buy them. The sale to Indonesia fell through and now they are back on the market. India is always interested in used Mirages for spares and getting squadrons to full strength. Qatar wants to sell and India is looking to buy. The relationship is transactional. Nothing more than that.

[Rakesh]

Having said that, 12 Qatari Mirages would be welcome addition, we can go for another sq. We had some 12 mirages in flyable condition that we got from France (along with many non flyable ones for spare parts). The Mirage spare eco system was extended by 10 years (because French want to have them for another 10 years, perhaps for Ukraine). We would have a history of spare part consumption. We should be proactive and stock up on the spares, planning for keeping these Mirages for another 15-20 years. The only spanner I believe is if we somehow figure out production of Tejas with Kaveri (we will be limited by GE to no more than 20 planes a year, if that).

Kaveri was got ways to go, before she can be inducted into an active Tejas squadron in the IAF. The only hope lies in GE increasing its production. And that is easier said than done. Lot of politics (i.e. MRFA) in the background to consider.

Assuming the IAF gets any used Mirages from Greece, Qatar or wherever else...they will likely be first used to shore up the attrition losses and improve aircraft serviceability in the three current squadrons (No 1 Tigers, No 7 Battle Axes and No 9 Wolfpacks).

[fanne]

The third sq is under strength. You need 54 (18*3). I think we will do that. We have flyable planes to do another 1.5 sq (with Qatar mirages). We may or may not do that, just use them to keep 3 sq fully operational.

[srai]

^^^

Last 10-15 years of squadron service remaining for the Mirage-2000. No point raising a new squadron from 2nd hand aircraft.

At this point, shore up the reserve numbers and spare parts to maintain acceptable serviceability rates for the 3 squadrons till retirement.

[maitya]

The third sq is under strength. You need 54 (18*3). I think we will do that. We have flyable planes to do another 1.5 sq (with Qatar mirages). We may or may not do that, just use them to keep 3 sq fully operational.

Actually it should be 19-20/sq for "legacy" (M2K is now considered legacy) platforms - all depends upon, what their current uptimes are.
So yes 12 Qatari jets, would mean full 3Sq strength, each Sq can have additional platforms as well ... their is no point in creating additional Sqs when the numbers wouldn't allow full Sq strength.

However, what I'm thinking is, how much are these 2005s different 2000I - think, that's the designation post that 2011 super-costly ($2.5B for 51 platforms) upgrade program, which was supposed to bring them to Mirage 2000-5 Mk2 std.

And, why not take this opportunity to go for an AESA-upgrade (Uttam-2000 anyone?, and also maybe replacement of the ICMS3 suite), of the entire 62 (50+12) platforms ...
This will nicely allow them to shoulder on for another 7-8years, and be the last of the platforms to be replaced by LCA Mk2.

PS: Any kind soul here knows if the I-upgrade program included ICMS2 or ICMS3 version - and also if Samir DDM missile warning system was also part of the upgrade package (90% chance it was not).

[VinodTK]

MoD asks UK for 9 Jaguars, spares to help maintain fleet

What is IAF coming to?
retired/junked Mirages and now Jaguars Not to forget mothballed Mig 29's
Someone in the MOD or PMO should standup and make the call as to what the way forward is.

[Rakesh]

MoD asks UK for 9 Jaguars, spares to help maintain fleet

What is IAF coming to?
retired/junked Mirages and now Jaguars Not to forget mothballed Mig 29's
Someone in the MOD or PMO should standup and make the call as to what the way forward is.

There is no other option. They have to keep the current fleet flightworthy, till the new orders start flowing in.

The order of the first tranche of 83 Tejas Mk1As has just gotten underway. The second tranche of 97 Tejas Mk1As have yet to get CCS approval, forget contract signing. Then there is the Tejas Mk2 order for 201 airframes, of which a prototype has not yet had her first flight. And above all this, lies the mythical MRFA for a minimum of 114 aircraft. It will take two decades to fulfill all these orders. Therefore the only viable option in the short term is to acquire spares and cannibalize airframes from other air forces that operate (or had operated) a similar fleet.

This is the long term plan: https://x.com/SJha1618/status/1773283439996797189?s=20 ---> 220 + 201 + 272 + 189 = 882

220: Tejas Mk1A
201: Tejas Mk2
272: Su-30MKI
189: MRFA + 36 Rafales

[VinodTK]

^^^ Thanks Rakesh Jee; was expressing my frustration

[Rakesh]

^^^ Thanks Rakesh Jee

No Jee please

was expressing my frustration

Frustration all around Saar. But what to do?

Air Force (Tejas, AMCA, MRFA, inflight refulers, AEW/AWACS): screwed up
Army (Armoured Corps, Infantry, Artillery): screwed up
Navy (P-75I, IAC-2): screwed up

Everything is a mess. Celebrate the few silver linings that came along i.e. Prachand LCH.

Wants to fight two front war with imported artillery guns, tanks, etc. Will never learn.

[Rakesh]

For the love of Jupiter, MoD please do not *SCREW THIS UP* again. Please do not low ball the Qataris again!

Lots of interesting nuggets in the article below. If purchased, all three squadrons will be at full strength!!! Worth its weight in gold, provided the airframes are airworthy and can be used till the mid-2030s...which is when the IAF plans to retire the Mirage 2000 fleet.

Unless my conversion is incorrect, I believe ₹5,000 crore works out to US $598+ million, so close to US $50 million per aircraft, which includes spares + engines + weapons.

India, Qatar discuss proposal for sale of 12 used Mirage-2000 fighter aircraft
https://www.aninews.in/news/world/asia/ ... 621195336/
21 June 2024

India and Qatar on Friday held discussions on the proposal to buy 12 second-hand Qatari Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets. The discussions between the Indian side and the Qatari team were held in the national capital. A presentation was made to Indian officials on the current state of the 12 Mirage 2000 aircraft with them, defence sources told ANI. The aircraft are in a very good condition and have a lot of life left in them, they also said. The Indian side is considering the proposal, keeping in mind the compatibility of their aircraft with the Indian Mirage 2000 aircraft fleet which is more advanced than the aircraft on offer, the defence sources said.

However, the engines of both Indian and Qatari aircraft are the same and it would be easier for the service to maintain them, if India decides to go for them. The Qatari side is offering around Rs 5,000 crore for the 12 aircraft, but the Indian side is keen to get the aircraft at a reasonable price. The Qatari aircraft are being offered to the Indian side, along with missiles and additional engines for flying operations.

The officials clarified that the aircraft are planned to be used for flying operations and not for being used for spare and maintenance requirements. Indian Air Force received a significant number of spares and equipment in a second-hand deal from a French vendor during the Covid period. The Qatari deal will help the Indian Air Force to take the number of Mirage 2000s in its fleet to 60. The Mirage fleet with Gwalior as its home base has been the mainstay of the Indian Air Force and has helped the force carry out major operations like the Kargil war, and the Balakot air strikes and has been actively involved along the LAC with China on the northern frontier.

[maitya]

For the love of Jupiter, MoD please do not *SCREW THIS UP* again. Please do not low ball the Qataris again!

Lots of interesting nuggets in the article below. If purchased, all three squadrons will be at full strength!!! Worth its weight in gold, provided the airframes are airworthy and can be used till the mid-2030s...which is when the IAF plans to retire the Mirage 2000 fleet.

Unless my conversion is incorrect, I believe ₹5,000 crore works out to US $598+ million, so close to US $50 million per aircraft, which includes spares + engines + weapons.

India, Qatar discuss proposal for sale of 12 used Mirage-2000 fighter aircraft
https://www.aninews.in/news/world/asia/ ... 621195336/
21 June 2024

<snip>
"... the compatibility of their aircraft with the Indian Mirage 2000 aircraft fleet which is more advanced than the aircraft on offer ..."
<snip>

Rakeshji, one more point ... wrt the above highlighted sentence/quote in that report.
IIRC, the major difference between Qatari M2K (std 2000-5) and upgraded Indian M2K (2000-5 Mk2) is more or less on:
1) RDY vs RDY-2 radar (IIRC, a new SAR mode, with MTI)
2) ICMS-2 vs ICMS-3 ECM suite
3) Upgrades to INS, MDPUs and maybe an Indian MC (not sure)

So, and as mentioned before, such a high price ($58m/2nd-hand-and-20-year-old platforms), can only be justified only if an fleet-wide (so 50+12 = 62) desi-AESA Radar (say an Uttam-2000) and an desi-AESA-based ECM suite upgrade program, is considered/contemplated.
(and maybe also an indigenous MC as well, allowing indigenous weapons integration - ofcourse, if it's not already part of the fleet as a part of the previous upgrade program)

Do note, for the ECM suite upgrade part, this will also provide an excellent opportunity for trying out an internal AESA based SPJs and digital RWR (Dhruti) combo (and if a desi MAWS can be shoe-horned, nothing like it) - as a precursor to applying the same to LCA MK2s.
After all, M2Ks should not face the same space and power constraints like LCA MK1s - plus such an success, would automatically make the MiG-29s an viable similar-upgrade-candidate as well (the engines for which, are currently being upgraded to RD-33MK std).

Also, one more thing that is not getting reported ...
Whenever a new aircraft type is introduced, a comprehensive base-infrastructure is also put in place - and that's not merely some additional engines, or some spares etc, and will include infrastructure like flight simulators, ground handling equipment etc.
Same would have been done (and may even have been upgraded all these years) for Qatar as well.

Current Indian M2K sqs are all based out of a single location (IIRC, not sure, pls correct me if I'm wrong), as setting up another base, which would involve duplicating all these infra, would be cost-prohibitive.
But along with this deal, if those infra are also included, may a second location/base can be setup without too much of an additional cost-impact.
That in turn *may* allow another sqn worth (Greece ones or maybe from Taiwan or Saudi Arabia or even the remaining French ones which are due to be replaced by Rafales etc) can be contemplated (after putting them thru the same upgrade program).

Possibilities are endless ...

Ofcourse, all above are utterly IMVHO onlee ...

[ashthor]

I am sure Rakesh will give mithai box the weight of M2K to all if the deal goes through.

[srai]

Forget indigenous upgrades. It takes a long time to certify any changes even minor. At this point minimum changes to service end 10-15 years from now.

Maybe some indigenous weapons will be added but even these will become less of a thing as the years progress.

[maitya]

Forget indigenous upgrades. It takes a long time to certify any changes even minor. At this point minimum changes to service end 10-15 years from now.

Maybe some indigenous weapons will be added but even these will become less of a thing as the years progress.

Ummm right ... but not always!!
Uttam variants and along-with indigenous SPJ/Dhruti combo has been already type certified for LCA Mk1/1A - so, no not much time/effort required for certification etc.
Yes transforming it to internal system would be a challenge, but shouldn't be too much of an issue ...

One of the reason why the M2K upgrade took so much time to implement, was, literally the entire platform was stripped and rebuilt ... but once that hard-work has been done, these kind of incremental upgrades are precisely the reason why that amount of trouble/money was spent.

[srai]

There is already quite a lot happening over the next 10-years: Tejas Mk1A, Tejas Mk2, Su-30MKI upgrade and AMCA Mk.1.

[Brad Goodman]

How easy is it to make Uttam speak with onboard mission computer of Mirage? Do we have source codes and ability to make changes to that software? With Russian birds over years we have switched lots of their softwares with ours so it is easier to integrate LRU or weapons on them. Mirages may be different story hence the upgrades cost so much

[fanne]

The upgraded French M2ks already have Indian Mc if I recall right.

[Pratyush]

Will it be worth while to do so. In terms of remaining flight time for the aircraft.

[fanne]

The total cost of buying plus upgrade could come to 1.5 times the cost of tejas mk1a. It could still be desirable as our higher than mountain, sweeter than honey friend have restricted us to 20 f404 engine per year (if that, cause we may not buy ourselves in time - clearance, order, budgeting, there could be years of gap). It will take 10 years to deliver just 200 mk1a. We need numbers now.

[Kartik]

Will it be worth while to do so. In terms of remaining flight time for the aircraft.

Absolutely.

Just compare the age of the Jaguars and the fact that we still have the DARIN 3 upgrade going on to upgrade the last built Jags to that standard.

These Mirages will have more than 30% of their airframe life intact for sure. They were acquired in 1997-1998 and back in 2003/2004, the news reports were that the Qataris barely flew them and maintained them well. So they were in near mint condition. 20 years later they have aged, but will still be flyable for another 20 years if required.

I do feel that the IAF will want fleet commonality with the Mirage-2000I, IF the Qatari Mirages are bought. And I say IF, because the asking price is too high. Remember the MoD only offered ~USD 380 million in 2003/2004 when the Qataris had offered these very 12 Mirages and back then they had nearly 90% of their airframe lives intact, plus they were offering MICAs which the IAF didn't even possess! The asking price is too high and given the residual life left now, the MoD will not be ok with the asking price. Expect the MoD to offer ~USD 300 million and not more.

[maitya]

Will it be worth while to do so. In terms of remaining flight time for the aircraft.

Absolutely.
...
The asking price is too high and given the residual life left now, the MoD will not be ok with the asking price. Expect the MoD to offer ~USD 300 million and not more.

Something doesn't add-up wrt the price (~$600+ m) ... wasn't Indonesia agreeable to ~$750-800m, just a few months ago (before they backtracked)!!
Maybe there are other items included (not reported), as a part of this deal - it can't be because of additional Micas etc, as IAF would also be keen to acquire them, to strengthen it's inventory.

[maitya]

Absolutely.
...
The asking price is too high and given the residual life left now, the MoD will not be ok with the asking price. Expect the MoD to offer ~USD 300 million and not more.

Something doesn't add-up wrt the price (~$600+ m) ... wasn't Indonesia agreeable to ~$750-800m, just a few months ago (before they backtracked)!!
Maybe there are other items included (not reported), as a part of this deal - it can't be because of additional Micas etc, as IAF would also be keen to acquire them, to strengthen it's inventory.

Answering my own question, pure speculation though - Googling revealed this:

... provisioned for 14 spare engines, unspecified weapons, ground support equipment, crew training and other ancillary support, including up to three years of support services ...
Source: Indonesia puts Qatari Mirage 2000 deal on hold

Now IAF *may* want to get additional ground support equipment and maybe even any simulator etc but would definitely not need any crew training and other ancillary support and no way 3-year of support etc ...
This will contribute to the reduced price being asked for, however how much of the reduction is accounted by these, is anybody's guess ...

[ramana]

One lesson from Russian conversion of dumb bombs.

India should look at similar solution for the large number of 1000 lb bombs with IAF.

Sudarshan was not very good solution.
DRDO has the GPS chips and MING that can be used.
Besides 1000 lb are inexpensive to make.

DRDO has developed the PGHSLD, which is basically a guidance kit for HSLD bombs. I think even the G-series bombs might offer a solution for wings and guidance kit to be added to legacy dumb bombs.

The 1000MC is cheap to make and tooling exists.
And is in sufficient inventory with IAF.
HSLD etc are limited production run bombs.

[Rakesh]

Debunking the Myth: India’s Mirage 2000 Acquisition
https://iafhistory.in/2024/06/24/debunk ... quisition/
24 June 2024

[SSridhar]

A good read, the above. Thanks for posting Rakesh.

[ramana]

Debunking the Myth: India’s Mirage 2000 Acquisition
https://iafhistory.in/2024/06/24/debunk ... quisition/
24 June 2024

Comment gives context

By Wg Cdr KJ Bhatt

Excellent.However a Lil more background.Post 62,deluge of direct entry IAF Pilots last the mammoth 98th course.While with Ex Shiksha,F86 TRG USA,Caribos from Canada & US fighters were offered for Dollars which we would get in desperation post 1991.So the Ruskies mucked in with Bannanas for Migs.The 21 mishandled would mush but overcame the multirole F4 in Nam.However fuel guzzlers with reheat max 3 min short bursts 800 l of ATF per min.
The Jags & Packets courtesy 12 course dad’s friend 11course Idris Latif then US Air Attache.
Fr ac initial scouting Brit Vamps could have covered Ourogan & Mystere & ripples even today of MIzo strikes.
While Ruskie Mettalurgy sound, avionics took off post Perestroika & Glasnost collaboration West.

Disjointed but valuable insider comment.

[Kartik]

Absolutely.
...
The asking price is too high and given the residual life left now, the MoD will not be ok with the asking price. Expect the MoD to offer ~USD 300 million and not more.

Something doesn't add-up wrt the price (~$600+ m) ... wasn't Indonesia agreeable to ~$750-800m, just a few months ago (before they backtracked)!!
Maybe there are other items included (not reported), as a part of this deal - it can't be because of additional Micas etc, as IAF would also be keen to acquire them, to strengthen it's inventory.

That deal (USD 734 million) reeked of bribery. There was a company, Excalibur International, in the mix as a middle man, which was facilitating the deal. That won't work with India. If this deal has to happen, it'll have to be a govt. to govt. deal or India will deal with Dassault who will buy the Mirages from Qatar and sell them back to India.

India doesn't need pilot training for sure, but maybe some technician training for avionics that aren't common with the Mirage-2000I will be required. Included 14 engines, spares and 3 years of support.

Some details of what will be available to India as well are given in this Aviation Week article-

Indonesia terminates contract for ex-Qatari Mirage-2000s

Jakarta's Mirage package—which included 14 engines, spare parts, three years of support, and pilot and technician training—was signed in June 2023 and carried a $734.5 million price tag.

On postponing the purchase in January, Indonesian officials said the country's priority was to upgrade and retrofit its existing fleet of Lockheed Martin F-16s and Sukhoi Su-27/30s, without providing specific details or a timeline.

High-profile local lawyer Hotman Paris Hutapea, who has been called in to represent the ministry, has pushed back against allegations made online that defense officials were involved in corruption relating to the contract. "Not a single penny" of state funds was paid out, the lawyer has said.

BTW, these jets have more than 70% of their flight hours, as per the Indonesian Defence Minister! They'll easily go on for another 20+ years and outlast most of our Mirages.

Indonesia cancels Mirage plans

The minister claimed that the Qatari Mirage fleet still had approximately 70% of its total flight hours.

However, the opposition criticized the plan to purchase the Mirage 2000 and pointed out the lack of long-term availability of spare parts, maintenance, and repairs for the aircraft. Per the contract, the support service guarantee was limited to three years.

..

A recent article published on the MSN portal suggested Subianto was involved in a corruption case related to this purchase. According to the article, the Group of States Against Corruption (GRECO), the Council of Europe’s anti-corruption monitoring body, opened an investigation into Excalibur International, a Czech company involved in the order negotiations.