Mirage 2000, fighter jet used in first airstrike inside Pakistan after 1971 war: Key facts

NEW DELHI: The Indian Air Force (IAF) carried out strikes at one of the biggest terror camps of Jaish-e-Mohammed in a "non-military", "pre-emptive" action in Pakistan's Balakot region. Defence sources have said that a fleet of Mirage 2000 carried out the exercise and pounded the terror camp with bombs and levelled it.

The terror group had taken responsibility for the February 14 suicide attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama in which 40 CRPF personnel lost their lives.The government sources said the Mirage 2000 multi-role aircraft was chosen for the strike for its capability to hit targets with "pin-point" accuracy.
A number of other assets and platforms of the IAF were also used in the operation, first inside Pakistan after the 1971 Indo-Pak war.
Why Mirage 2000?
* The Mirage 2000 is a multi-role, single-engine fighter jet which is capable of dropping a range of bombs and missiles including laser-guided bombs.
* The Mirage 2000s are fitted with Thales RDY (radar doppler multi-target) 2 radar which can strike at targets with 100 per cent accuracy, said an IAF official on condition of anonymity.

* The aircraft was preferred as it is capable of long-range engagement of targets and the assessment was that it can record 100 per cent success rate.
Here's a brief history about the fighter aircraft:
* Mirage 2000 started its innings with the IAF in the year 1985.
* The fighter jet played a decisive role in the 1999 Kargil war and turned it in our favour.
* After that, the government placed order for more such aircrafts in 2004.
* In July 2011, Centre approved a $2.2 billion upgrade package for its Mirage 2000s.

Specifications of the fighter jet, also called 'Vajra' (thunderbolt):
* The jet is available in single-seater and two-seater options.
* Maximum climbing speed: 60,000 feet per minute and designed for all weather penetration at low altitude.
* Maker: Dassault Aviation of France (same company which manufactures Rafale aircraft)
* After the upgradation, the jet got additional features like a night vision goggle-compatible glass cockpit, advanced navigational systems, advanced identification friend or foe (IFF) system, advanced multi-mode multi-layered radar, fully integrated electronic warfare suite and advanced beyond visual range (BVR) capability.
* The jet has a length of 14.36 metre and a wingspan of 91.3 metre; it weighs 7500 kg (dry) and has a total takeoff weight of 17000 kg.

* Apart from India, Dassault sold the Mirage 2000 to eight other countries, including France, Egypt, UAE, Peru, Taiwan, Peru, Greece and Brazil.
* A total of 583 Mirage-2000 fighter jets were built over a course of 30 years.
* India currently has around three squadrons of Mirage 2000 fighter jets manufactured by French aerospace major Dassault Aviation. The squadrons are based in Gwalior.
The government sources also said India will have a much wider choice of aircraft to carry out precision strikes when Rafale jets are inducted into the IAF as they are capable of hitting targets at longer range. India is procuring 36 Rafale jets at a cost of Rs 58,000 crore and the first aircraft is scheduled to be delivered in September.
It is not clear whether the fleet of Mirage 2000s flew directly from Gwalior or they took off from other bases to carry out the strike.
(With PTI inputs)