UAE Armed Forces To Upgrade French-built Mirage 2000-9 Fighter Aircraft

[Zarvan]

UAE Armed Forces To Upgrade French-built Mirage 2000-9 Fighter Aircraft
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The UAE Armed Forces have announced a contract to modernize its Dassault Mirage 2000-9 fighter jets during the on-going Dubai airshow this week.

“The UAE Armed Forces have announced their intention to sign a contract with Dassault and Thales to upgrade their Mirage 2000-9 aircraft,” said HE Major General Staff Pilot Ishaq Saleh Al-Balushi, Head of the Executive Directorate of Industries and Development of Defense Capabilities at the Ministry of Defense and Deputy Chairman of the Higher Organising Committee of Idex 2017.

“This modernisation comes within the framework of the directives of the wise leadership of the State to support and promote the comprehensive development of our Armed Forces in various branches and in line with the requirements of our Armed Forces,” General added.

Last year, it was reported that the UAE was looking to sell its fleet of Mirage fighters to the Iraqi Air Force since 2011 to complete the deal of purchasing 60 Rafale aircraft due to cost overrun. It was reported that Egypt was also offered to purchase Mirage 2000-9 jets from the Gulf country. But with the newly announced upgrade deal, the country has likely shelved the idea of selling the French jets.

The UAE has 36 multirole Mirage 2000 fighters that have been in service since 1986. A major order for Mirage aircraft in 1998 for an upgraded version, the Mirage 2000-9 was made. That order totalled 62 aircraft, with 32 new planes and 30 of the UAE's older Mirage 2000s revamped.

The technologies and advanced capabilities that the Mirage 2000-9 incorporate include Dassault's "Rafale technology," with similar modular avionics, an LCD glass cockpit with full night vision goggles compatibility, and advanced sensors and systems, according to the Bader 21 purchase agreement signed in 1998.

http://www.defenseworld.net/news/21...t_Mirage_2000_9_Fighter_Aircraft#.WgrmNGiCxPY

 

[Khafee]

Lets see who can figure out, what Rafale std these M2K-9's will be upgraded to.

 

[Imran Khan]

high operational cost failed to resale them?

 

[Khafee]

high operational cost failed to resale them?

Bhai, kabhi to chawl na mara karo!

 

[Imran Khan]

Bhai, kabhi to chawl na mara karo!

10saal se koi nhi leta ye meri waga se hain kya ?

 

[Khafee]

10saal se koi nhi leta ye meri waga se hain kya ?

Bhai, don't believe everything you read. People have been speculating blindly, when in fact, the basic questions remains unanswered: If the M2K-9 is sold, what will it be replaced with? Is there a replacement in sight, that these a/c's can be disposed of?

 

[HRK]

Lets see who can figure out, what Rafale std these M2K-9's will be upgraded to.

AESA + EW ... ??

 

[The SC]

Bhai, don't believe everything you read. People have been speculating blindly, when in fact, the basic questions remains unanswered: If the M2K-9 is sold, what will it be replaced with? Is there a replacement in sight, that these a/c's can be disposed of?

This confirms that the Rafale per se won't come before the F4 upgrade that is due to enter service around 2025..

 

[HRK]

Bhai, don't believe everything you read. People have been speculating blindly, when in fact, the basic questions remains unanswered: If the M2K-9 is sold, what will it be replaced with? Is there a replacement in sight, that these a/c's can be disposed of?

Just out of curiosity... why UAE is not considering Gripen-NG this could be an ideal platform to replace the Mirage-9 as compare to more expensive RAFALE or EURO Fighter ....

 

[The SC]

Just out of curiosity... why UAE is not considering Gripen-NG this could be an ideal platform to replace the Mirage-9 as compare to more expensive RAFALE or EURO Fighter ....

Rafale is the natural replacement for the Mirage..Since the UAE is very familiar with the French technology.. buying the Euro fighter Typhoon or Gripen will take new training, new infrastructure and much more..

 

[Khafee]

Rafale is the natural replacement for the Mirage..Since the UAE is very familiar with the French technology.. buying the Euro fighter Typhoon or Gripen will take new training, new infrastructure and much more..

Yes but with EF T3b and a new package from the consortium, our interest has been renewed.

Just out of curiosity... why UAE is not considering Gripen-NG this could be an ideal platform to replace the Mirage-9 as compare to more expensive RAFALE or EURO Fighter ....

1) When one buys big ticket items, you also buy political clout. Sweden's clout in comparison to US, UK & EU = nothing

2) With the amount of American h/w in the Gripen, it is still subject to their strings, so the whole point of having a 2nd platform fails. Plus the Swedes can be finicky as well, so with big ticket items, it is best to avoid them.

3) The EF and Rafale are twin engine heavies, the Gripen a single engine light weight. Replacing the M2K-9(upgraded) with the Gripen would be equivalent to a 1:1 replacement, whereas with EF/Rafale it would be 1:1.5 or 2 - in terms of capability.

This confirms that the Rafale per se won't come before the FR upgrade that is due to enter service around 2025..

No, not really, because the EF consortium has suddenly woken up ,and is trying very hard to win this order. Although not needed, but they are also offering a very good financial package with it.

Secondly, Rafale F4 is going to be next gen, which is good, but in this case the 2025 timeline seems a bit too optimistic. Even if not optimistic, if delivers start in 2025, given AdA's requirement as well as teething issues of new components, could mean our deliveries being stretched to 2030. This is a major issue. Since any new platform takes time, to absorb, and master.

As early as 2023, a first version of the F4 standard will follow
https://www.dassault-aviation.com/en/group/press/press-kits/rafale-towards-standard-f4/

Things are too fluid right now, but the dust should settle soon.

 

[The SC]

Yes but with EF T3b and a new package from the consortium, our interest has been renewed.



1) When one buys big ticket items, you also buy political clout. Sweden's clout in comparison to US, UK & EU = nothing

2) With the amount of American h/w in the Gripen, it is still subject to their strings, so the whole point of having a 2nd platform fails. Plus the Swedes can be finicky as well, so with big ticket items, it is best to avoid them.

3) The EF and Rafale are twin engine heavies, the Gripen a single engine light weight. Replacing the M2K-9(upgraded) with the Gripen would be equivalent to a 1:1 replacement, whereas with EF/Rafale it would be 1:1.5 or 2 - in terms of capability.


No, not really, because the EF consortium has suddenly woken up ,and is trying very hard to win this order. Although not needed, but they are also offering a very good financial package with it.

Secondly, Rafale F4 is going to be next gen, which is good, but in this case the 2025 timeline seems a bit too optimistic. Even if not optimistic, if delivers start in 2025, given AdA's requirement as well as teething issues of new components, could mean our deliveries being stretched to 2030. This is a major issue. Since any new platform takes time, to absorb, and master.

As early as 2023, a first version of the F4 standard will follow
https://www.dassault-aviation.com/en/group/press/press-kits/rafale-towards-standard-f4/

Things are too fluid right now, but the dust should settle soon.

The F4 standard/upgrade is the closest to the UAE requirements.. I think it wants to wait for it..hence the mirage upgrade..

 

[Khafee]

The F4 standard/upgrade is the closest to the UAE requirements.. I think it wants to wait for it..hence the mirage upgrade..

If the EF T3b deliveries can start in early 2019, you might be in for a surprise.

 

[The SC]

If the EF T3b deliveries can start in early 2019, you might be in for a surprise.

I haven't heard much about that deal.. it will be a fair one for sure.. but I am not very optimistic about it.. (for ToT matters), Typhoons stated free-fall a lot lately from Spain to the Middle East.. have you heard of the structural problems found in it?

BTW, was this mirage upgrade planned before or did it come after the recent visit of the French officials to the UAE to brief it on the Rafale statue?
Because as far as I know, the F4 news came as soon as they left the UAE!? food for thoughts..

 

[Khafee]

I haven't heard much about that deal.. it will be a fair one for sure.. but I am not very optimistic about it.. (for ToT matters), Typhoons stated free-fall a lot lately from Spain to the Middle East.. have you heard of the structural problems found in it?

BTW, was this mirage upgrade planned before or did it come after the recent visit of the French officials to the UAE to brief it on the Rafale statue?
Because as far as I know, the F4 news came as soon as they left the UAE!? food for thoughts..

M2K-9 upgrade - Multi million dollar contracts, do not happen at the drop of a dime, months, even years of planning and negotiations go into it. The Blk60 upgrade is out there, for everyone to see as an example.

Rafale - Did not come up as Dassault and UAEAF are working on it.