France Awards MLU Contract for Mirage 2000D Fleet

France Awards Contract for the Mid-Life Upgrade of its Mirage 2000 D Fighters

(Source: French defence procurement agency, DGA; issued July 19, 2016)

The mid-life update of 55 Mirage 2000D strike fighters will add a gun, MICA missiles for self-defense and a new avionics suite, allowing these aircraft to serve alongside the Rafale fighters into the 2030s. (French AF photo)

Following the decision by the Ministerial Investment Committee in late 2015, the Direction générale de l’armement (DGA) has awarded Dassault Aviation and MBDA a contract for the mid-life upgrade of the Mirage 2000D fleet.

The contract covers 55 aircraft operated by the French air force. The goal of the mid-life upgrade is to allow them to operate alongside the Rafale combat aircraft beyond 2030.

In addition to the modernization of their avionics, the upgrade includes the fitting of an automatic cannon for ground attack as well as the replacement of their previous-generation Magic self-protection missiles by the MICA.

This program will allow the ministry of defense to maintain the force levels established by the White Paper on Defense and National Security, or a combined 225 combat aircraft for the air force and navy.

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Dassault Aviation Will Renovate the Mirage 2000D Aircraft of the French Air Force

(Source: Dassault Aviation; issued July 19, 2016)

SAINT-CLOUD, France --- The French defense procurement agency DGA has decided to give Dassault Aviation the responsibility of renovating 55 Mirage 2000D aircraft in service with the French Air Force.

This decision reflects the trust DGA places in the know-how of Dassault Aviation and its industrial partners in upgrading aircraft.

The Mirage 2000D entered service in 1993 and is specialized in ground attack.

The modifications it is to undergo (gun pod, Mica missiles and weapon system improvement) illustrate the upgradability of Dassault aircraft based on operational lessons learned.

With more than 8,000 military and civil aircraft delivered to more than 90 countries over the past 60 years, and having logged nearly 28 million flight hours to date, Dassault Aviation can offer recognized know-how and experience in the design, development, sale and support of all types of aircraft, from the Rafale fighter to the Falcon range of high-end business jets, as well as military unmanned air systems. In 2015, Dassault Aviation reported revenues of €4.20 billion. The company has almost 12,000 employees. In 2016, Dassault Aviation is celebrating the first centennial of its history, which started in 1916 with Marcel Dassault and the Éclair propeller.

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