India confirmed that it will upgrade its 51 Mirage 2000H fighters, and entered final negotiations with Thales, which will act as prime contractor. The long-delayed deal has been controversial in India because of cost, and the 20- to 25-year age of most of the airframes. Thales would not comment on Indian media reports that the contract could be worth $2.4 billion. An additional $900 million will be spent on MBDA Mica missiles and $500 million more on new infrastructure, the reports added.
Thales told AIN that the upgrade includes the company’s RDY-3 multimode radar, as well as new navigation and electronic countermeasures systems. According to other reports, the upgrade also features a glass cockpit and a helmet-mounted display. A Dassault spokesman told AIN that the Indian Mirages would receive the company’s MPDU mission computer, which is also fitted to the Rafale.
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