Mirages flying with Eurofighters during Exercise IndraDhanush with Royal Air Force
Crash of two Mirage-2000 fighter jets, which boast of an enviable safety record, in a span of 10 days had left the Indian Air Force (IAF) flummoxed. Now after 35 days of the crashes caused by the engine flame out, the court of inquiry constituted by the IAF and the French makers of the aircraft Dassault technicians have not been able to zero in the fault. The engine failure was first for a Mirage in the world.
What adds to the agony of the recent Mirage crashes is that the aircraft, based in Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh), are in their Silver Jubilee year into the IAF.
What adds to the agony of the recent Mirage crashes is that the aircraft, based in Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh), are in their Silver Jubilee year into the IAF.
Sources said that the IAF is suspecting "material failure". Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) of the engines Snecma has taken the engines of the crashed jets to France for further investigation. IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne said on Tuesday that the fleet will be flying by month end.
On the sidelines of the Annual Commanders Conference, Browne said : “Checks are being carried out and after that the fleet is expected
to start flying again by the end of this ."
The same aerospace major Dassault's product Rafale has been selected as the lowest bidder for the big-ticket contract for 126 fighter jets expected to value Rs. 42,000 crore. If the price negotiations go well and no disgruntled vendor put a spoke in the wheel, the IAF is likely to sign this deal in the current financial year.
For the reports on the crashes of the Mirages read this report - Second Mirage crash in 10 days, IAF grounds fleet and Air Marshal survives Mirage crash
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