Indonesia to acquire used Mirage 2000-5 fighters from Qatar

 

A Mirage 2000-5 fighter aircraft of the Qatar Emiri Air Force. Photo c/o Reddit.



The Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) was reported to be the buyer for Qatar's fleet of Dassault Mirage 2000-5 fighter aircraft, which have been retired from service after accepting new replacements.

French news outlet Intelligence Online reported that the 12 Mirage 2000-5 fighter aircraft of the Qatar Emiri Air Force is finally heading to Indonesia, despite interests from France and Bulgaria for the used but still in good condition fighters.

Qatar received their first of their 12 new Mirage 2000-5 fighter in 1997, but were recently retired from service after the Middle Eastern country procured dozens of new fighter aircraft from France, the UK and the United States as it increase its capability and size.

It is believed that Indonesia will use these used Mirage 2000-5 fighters as a training and transition platform as it wait for the delivery of their new Dassault Rafale fighters ordered from France in 2021. 

Indonesia has never operated fighter aircraft from France, and the Mirage 2000-5 would allow their pilots and ground crew to familiarize with French combat aircraft.

Bulgaria and France were also said to have been interested with the fighters, with Bulgaria planning to replace its Soviet-era fighters and be in line with NATO-standard fighters, while France wanted to use the Qatari fighters as Aggressor training aircraft for their Rafale fleet.

The Mirage 2000-5 will increase the fighter aircraft fleet of the Indonesian Air Force, which currently has a mix of 33 American-made F-16A/B/C/D Fighting Falcons, 16 Russian-made Sukhoi Su-30 and Su-33 Flanker fighters, 22 British-made Hawk 200 light combat aircraft, and 14 South Korean-made T-50i lead in fighter trainers.




[1] Intelligence Online
[2] TurDef Global Defense News

Indonesia to acquire used Mirage 2000-5 fighters from Qatar Indonesia to acquire used Mirage 2000-5 fighters from Qatar Reviewed by Asia Pacific Defense Journal on October 23, 2022 Rating: 5

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