NEW DELHI: Pakistan’s acquisition of 40 French Mirage-2000 fighters that can carry tactical nuclear weapons is a cause of concern especially because Islamabad has now openly claimed nuclear capability say defense planners. Even though India had a well-guarded Western airspace bordering Pakistan several north Indian cities in Punjab Jammu and Kashmir Maharashtra Gujarat Rajasthan could come under direct air attack as these fighters could launch an attack return to their bases quickly.
Previous air war experience also showed that the PAF prefers to attack border Indian towns and wait for the Indian Air Force Jets to attack Bangala deep in Pakistan The PAF hopes to track down and ill IAF jets with the help of so phisticated radar systems. Pakistan went shopping in France after the US decided to stop supply of any more F-16 “Fighting Falcons” or their spare parts following Pakistan’s nuclear weapons program.
Pakistan’s air defence system revolves around the F-16 many of which are reported to be grounded due to cracks and lack of spare parts.
Latest reports say that France was supplying Mirage-2000s (trike) version to Pakistan which is a conventional attack version of Mirage-2000d more advanced than the version (Mirage 2000h and Mirage-2000th) acquired by India in the eighties.
Major improvements in the aircraft are the inclusion of a better radar as well as a new central processing unit for its air data computer and a holographic head up display for the pilot experts here said However serious reservations have been expressed by several Pakistani defence experts and PAF personnel over the recent Mirage deal according to published reports in Pakistan.
The Pak Daily Muslim quoting a number of defence experts said the aircraft were “obsolete and inferior. “The Daily said these Mirages were originally meant for sale to the Jordanian Air Force in 1986 but the deal did not materialize. These Mirages remained static in different hangars in France.
It is believed that one Mirage2000aircraftwillcost $50 million including ground equipment and spare parts for one year. Pakistan is buying these aircraft ostensibly to match the Indian air capability but Pakistani experts suggest that “Pakistan is buying technology in which India is at least eight years ahead.”
Defence experts here say that Pakistan may be operating the Mirage-2000 as fighter bomber. If the PAF was using the aircraft as a bomber it would be under highly effective Indian air defence control and under heavier configuration because the aircraft would be carrying heavy load of ammunition. At the same time India could have an advantage as it could operate its Mirages under its own air defence environment and in a lighter interception configuration.
In the interceptor role PAF Mirage-2000 would be again vulnerable to anti-aircraft missiles a well as an array of high performance fighter and air-to-air missiles.
Pak defence experts say the Mirage uses fuel at a very high rate and needs full power whereas the F-16 equivalent can out fight it with 75% of power available.
They say as compared to Americans the French lack experience in combat and resources for state-of-the-art development. “What they have done is to improve the Mirage II by giving it more power more fuel and flyby-wire capability and call it Mirage-2000.”
Further they oppose the idea of acquiring a weapon system that’s used by India and opine that even if the deal with France materializes it would take at least three years for the PAF to fully convert to the Mirage-2000.
They also point out that unlike the US. France offers limited production line facilities and therefore constrains on acquiring spare parts in case of a break in the agreement.
Article extracted from this publication >> February 21, 1992
