The Hellenic Air Force is looking to sell 18 decommissioned Mirage 2000 fighter jets to India.
The proposal could be discussed during Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’s upcoming visit to India, Kathimerini reported, citing sources.
Mitsotakis is expected to visit the South Asian country in the third week of February.
The air force retired the Mirages in January 2022 with the arrival of Rafale jets.
Its difficult maintenance due to a lack of spare parts was one of the reasons for its phase-out, according to Kathimerini.
India to Fly Mirages One More Decade
The Indian Air Force operates around 50 French-origin Mirage 2000s, first inducted in the 80s.
New Delhi bought 24 additional second-hand Mirages in 2021 as around 34 operational aircraft faced a shortage of critical parts while undergoing mid-life upgrades.
According to Kathimerini, India indicated in late 2023 to retain the Dassault aircraft for at least another decade.
However, the move has greater strategic dividends than monetary, as the European country wants closer defense ties with India, the Greek outlet added.
The aircraft, which are in bad condition, are expected to fetch Athens “a few million euros at best.”
Potential Plans for Operational Mirages
As far as the 24 operational Mirages are concerned, the Greek air force is weighing all options, including selling them to finance additional Rafales.
The legendary aircraft has started to show its age in the era of network-centredness, forcing the air force to abandon a planned integration of the Link-16 terminal with the aircraft due to “high costs and uncertainty about the effectiveness of the project,” according to Kathimerini.
The integration would have allowed the aircraft to communicate with the air force’s F-16Vs, Rafales, and future F-35s.
According to the outlet, the more likely option is to shift the aircraft gradually to a secondary role of interception like the older F-16 Block 30s.
