Dubai Airshow 2017: UAE Air Force set to upgrade Mirage 2000-9 fighter jets

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World Defense & Security Indsutry News - Thales & Dassault
 
 
Dubai Airshow 2017: UAE Air Force set to upgrade Mirage 2000-9 fighter jets
 
The United Arab Emirates Armed Forces have announced their intention to sign a contract for the upgrade of their Mirage 2000-9 fleet, the France-based defense companies Dassault Aviation and Thales said on November 14, 2017.
     
DAS17 Mirage 2000 9 upgrade 640 001UAE Air Force Mirage 2000-9 at DAS 2015
     
Dassault Aviation, which has been a reliable partner of the UAE for over 40 years, is fully committed to meet the operational requirements and to support the strategic challenges of the UAE AF & AD for the coming decades," has declared Eric Trappier, Chairman & CEO of Dassault Aviation.

On board the Mirage 2000-9, Thales supplies the complete electronic combat solutions to meet the pilot’s need for tactical information, enhanced survivability and operational effectiveness including: mission computer system, fire control radar, electronic warfare suite, optronics systems, communications navigation and identification, cockpit display systems, helmet mounted system display and electrical system.

The UAEAF currently flies around sixty Mirage 2000-9s. Thiry-two new Mirage 2000-9 jets were purchased in 1998, while 30 of the older Mirage 2000s were revamped. Among others improvements, they are equipped with the Shehab laser targeting pod, a variant of Thales' Damocles, and the Nahar navigation pod, complementing the air-to-ground modes of the RDY-2 radar.

Earlier, the UAE signed a $1.6 bn contract with the US-based defense giant Lockheed Martin for the upgrade of their 78 F-16E/F Block 60 fighter jets.