Mirage upgrade deal by March-end

Feb 10, 2011 |

IANS

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Bengaluru: India will finalise a deal with France by March-end to upgrade its 51 Mirage-2000 fighter jets, the Indian Air Force (IAF) chief, Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik, said on Thursday.

The two countries have finally overcome their differences over the cost of the contract with the French firm Dassault, which is estimated to be $2 billion.

"Yes, there were difficulties, but it is all over now and you will see the result soon," Naik told reporters at the Yelahanka air base here.

"The negotiations are now successfully concluded. The final report is now with the defence ministry and we expect to conclude the contract by the end of this financial year," the IAF deputy chief, Air Marshal R.K. Sharma, said.

The IAF operates three squadrons the multi-role fighters that it began inducting in 1987.

Under the upgrade programme, the IAF looks to extend its life by 20 or more years by integrating a modern glass cockpit for better situational awareness, improved avionics, a new electronic warfare suite, sensors and weapons.

The Mirage upgrade is the second such programme for fighter jets in the IAF fleet after a $964 million deal with Russia for 63 MiG-29 air dominance fighters.

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