Dassault Aviation Mirage 2000-5 Soon Under Indonesian Badge?

The Mirage 2000-5DDA is not only an advanced training aircraft, it is also a formidable air defense fighter. [avionslegendaires] ☆

The information has been dragging on the internet for a few days but everything has accelerated since this Monday evening, October 24, 2022. The Indonesian air force staff announces that it has bought the twelve Dassault Aviation Mirage 2000-5 multi-role fighters hitherto in service with its Qatari counterpart. The French-made fighter planes are, still according to Indonesia, accompanied by their armament and in particular Mica air-to-air missiles. However, the amount of the contract has not been disclosed.

In fact, these are nine Mirage 2000-5EDA single-seaters and three Mirage 2000-5DDA operational transformation two-seaters. Planes which we know were also coveted by other countries. It was believed for a time that Bulgaria would like to buy them back, but its recent order of eight F-16V Vipers from Lockheed-Martin proved the opposite. There were also rumors that the French contractor ARES Aviation had tried to buy them back in order to make them Agressors worthy of the name.

According to the Tentara Nasional Indonesia Angkatan Udara, the twelve Dassault Aviation Mirage 2000-5 ex-Qataris will considerably reduce Indonesia's dependence on Russia by allowing the immediate withdrawal from service of the five Sukhoi Su-27SKM Flankers while relaying the ten Sukhoi Su-30MK2 Flanker-C in secondary roles. They could even leave their ranks themselves very soon.

Indonesia intends to resell these two Russian models on the second-hand market.

Rest assured that the Indonesian decision to buy the twelve Mirage 2000-5EDA / Mirage 2000-5DDA does not in any way call into question the contract signed in February with Dassault Aviation around the Rafale F4 omnirole combat aircraft. On the contrary, it reinforces it. Indeed, the staff of the Tentara Nasional Indonesia Angkatan Udara indicates that the Qatari delta fighters were chosen because they make it possible to make the link between the current Indonesian planes and the future Rafales which will not be delivered for several years. They will therefore fulfill a role of transition aircraft!

On the other hand, it weakens the position of Boeing and its F-15EX Eagle II air superiority fighter on which Indonesia still has sights. This would undoubtedly not be without delighting the decision-makers of the French aircraft manufacturer.

It should be noted that if the Qatar Emiri Air Force does not yet confirm the contract, it does not deny it, insisting on the withdrawal of service from these machines. On the other hand, it is radio silence on the side of Dassault Aviation.

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