Greece Offers Retired Mirage 2000-5 Fighter Jets to India

Greece has offered to sell India its fleet of retired French-made Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets, potentially bolstering the Indian Air Force's existing Mirage capabilities. This offer comes as Greece modernizes its own air force with newer Rafale and F-35 jets.

The offer was reportedly presented by Greece's Chief of the General Staff of the Defense Forces, General Dimitrios Houpis, during a recent visit to India. Greece acquired 15 Mirage 2000-5s in 2000, including both single-seat and two-seat trainer variants.

These Mirage 2000-5s, being relatively young at less than 25 years old, still have an estimated 10-15 years of operational life remaining. India, which already operates a fleet of 50 Mirage 2000-5 fighters, is particularly interested in acquiring two of the Greek trainer jets to enhance pilot training capabilities.

It remains to be seen if the Indian Air Force will acquire the entire fleet of 15 aircraft offered by Greece. The decision will likely depend on a detailed analysis of costs and benefits in relation to India's current fleet and future plans. The IAF aims to keep its Mirage-2000 fleet operational until 2035, when it plans to replace them with the domestically developed Tejas MkII fighter jets.

Greece's offer of Mirage 2000-5s could provide India with a valuable opportunity to expand its fighter jet capabilities and enhance pilot training. The outcome of this potential deal will be of interest to those following developments in both countries' defense strategies.

 

[Mr.Evil]

When the world is moving towards 5th and 6th gen fighters we are buying second hand mirages great job guys let’s waste more tax money what can go wrong?🫡

 

[Hari Sud]

Makes no sense if price is high.

 

[sanket]

First MRFA is stuck , Fast Tracked it,if this was to bought it has to done 3 years ago with MIG-29 from Russia .with Rights to Indian Upgrade(Uttam AESA Radar ,IRST pod Indian BVR Astra Integration) Two sqad of Fighter jet (one Mirage-2000-15 jets & 21 MIG-29jets) have been added quickly. Lack of Decision making either way whether it is MRFA or buying old Fighter jets There is No urgency at all.

 

[Pramkumar]

There is no use in fantasy dreams about such garbage toys better that money should be added to additional orders for Mk1A

 

[PARTHAJIT JANA]

India is already very familiar with the platform. It will make another squadron very quickly for another 10--15 yrs. If the cost is cheap we should grab it.

 

[charminar_waale_ismail_bhai]

India is already very familiar with the platform. It will make another squadron very quickly for another 10--15 yrs. If the cost is cheap we should grab it.

I believe they are looking at this more from the perspective of cannibalization for parts to support existing fleet of Mirage 2000s.

 

[PARTHAJIT JANA]

I believe they are looking at this more from the perspective of cannibalization for parts to support existing fleet of Mirage 2000s.

Oh, ok! But i believe they already grabbed some from another country.

 

[Deepak Hegde]

Best to just quickly go ahead when these are available than trying to haggle and lose them !

 

[Provocateur Extraordinaire]

Far better to acquire these aircrafts and cancel the mrfa, instead use surplus funds to fastrack the Tejas mk 2 and amca.

 

[Vf Feb]

Practical approach , we need 42 squadrons ..new Tejas or Mrfa needs budget .and time to make ..if u get Mirage for small fraction of cost ...second hand price then go for it ...and then get POK & GB soon.

 

[Baiju Bhaskaran]

Total waste of money. Even if finalised, it will take another two years for integration. So it will be totally useless.Instead push HAL to deliver one Tejas atleast every month.

 

[PARTHAJIT JANA]

Practical approach , we need 42 squadrons ..new Tejas or Mrfa needs budget .and time to make ..if u get Mirage for small fraction of cost ...second hand price then go for it ...and then get POK & GB soon.

Dude stop these fascinations with pok and gb, it aint happening if you have brains. Stop believing politicians words like some godgiven words.We are a developing economy with very poor per capita income.untill we become some 30 trillion economy we wont have enough power to dictate terms to the world and that wont happen in our lifetime. Believe it or not, despite all our media hypes Pakistan is not some subsaharan african country. They are a nuclear power who has a formidable military with full of islamic fundamendalists and jihadists among their population.its not worth it just for a piece of land we give everything up what we have gained . Ministers give those statements to just pump up adrenaline.Lets build our country ,make us economically and technologically superior.

 

[Shubham Sahai]

Oh, ok! But i believe they already grabbed some from another country.

From France itself.

 

[Pramkumar]

There is no use in fantasy dreams about such garbage toys better that money should be added to additional orders for Mk1A

Ay the speed in which our planes are getting / will get inducted, our squarden strength will soon reach disastrous level. Need to maintain a minimum decent no. by such acquisitions. And Mirage is a very good plane to fly for 15 yrs more

 

[ABHIJIT APSINGIKAR]

When the world is moving towards 5th and 6th gen fighters we are buying second hand mirages great job guys let’s waste more tax money what can go wrong?🫡

More than half of them will be cannibalized to sustain other operational Mirage 2000. Anyway buying second-hand airframes may not be so bad option. As it will allow IAF to address the deficit in squadron strength and will buy some breathing space till either additional Rafale are ordered and Teas MK2, AMCA starts to enter service.

 

[GMR]

At the speed in which our planes are getting / will get inducted, our squarden strength will soon reach disastrous level. Need to maintain a minimum decent no. by such acquisitions. And Mirage is a very good plane to fly for 15 yrs more & will be a cost effective deal.

 

[Rajesh]

If they are economical then it is a good option to increase squadron strength esp since we have 50+ of these jets.

 

[Kira]

If the cost is relatively reasonable,I think IAF should go for it,buying all these Mirages will not only help with making up for all the lost Mirages in the last few years,but also assist with spares situation in the future,as one way or the other,Mirage-2000 will serve IAF till 2035.

 

[Vijigishu ( विजिग्शु )]

Another shameful event due to HAL but HAL is shameless that it won't matter to them.