India To Buy Mirage 2000 Fighter Jets from Qatar

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is considering the acquisition of 12 pre-owned Dassault Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets from Qatar to address its increasing shortfall in fighter squadrons. A team of IAF officials is set to visit Qatar soon to assess the aircraft’s condition and capabilities.

The proposed deal includes nine single-seat Mirage 2000-5EDA variants and three twin-seat Mirage 2000-5DDA trainers, along with spare engines, testing equipment, and MICA air-to-air missiles. Initial assessments indicate that the Qatari jets have around 30-35% of their airframe life remaining, potentially offering approximately 10 years of operational service. This aligns with India’s strategy to phase out its current Mirage 2000-5 fleet by 2035.

Reports suggest Qatar has priced each Mirage 2000-5 jet at approximately ₹500 crore (US$6.7 million), though earlier figures from Reuters indicate a higher total cost of $795.14 million for the fleet, averaging to US$66.25 million per aircraft. The substantial price difference raises financial considerations regarding the viability of the acquisition.

In related developments, Greece, which maintains 24 Mirage 2000 fighter jets, has offered 18 older Mirage-2000s to India for use as spare parts. Greece and India have bolstered their military cooperation with a strategic agreement signed in April 2024. This landmark agreement includes joint military exercises and operational activities involving personnel and assets from both nations’ armed forces, including special forces.

Under the agreement, Greek military units will participate in major national exercises in India, and vice versa, while both countries will collaborate in upcoming international exercises planned in Athens and New Delhi. This deeper military partnership underscores the growing strategic alignment and cooperation between Greece and India.