Here’s why Mirage 2000 was picked for IAF’s air strike across LoC

The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Tuesday used Mirage 2000 multi-role fighter jet to target three terror camps of Jaish-e-Mohammed across the Line of Control (LoC). The fighter jets used around 1,000 kgs of explosives to destroy the Jaish-e-Mohammad camps in Balakot, Chakoti and Muzaffarabad. There are some special features because of which the IAF picked Mirage 2000 for the surgical strike across the LoC.

Built by Dassault Aviation of France, Mirage 2000 has been in operation with the French Air Force since 1984. India, Egypt, Greece, Peru, Qatar, Taiwan, and the United Arab Emirates are some of the countries using it is a part of their defence forces. Here are some of the facts about one of the deadliest weapons of the IAF:

Ability to fly low: It can fly at low altitude without being noticed and this particular feature made it suitable for the air strike conducted by IAF in the wee hours on Tuesday. It helped IAF to drop bombs in some 88 km inside the LoC.

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HOTAS control: The latest version of Mirage has hands-on throttle and stick (HOTAS) control. It has Thales VEH 3020 head-up display and five cathode ray tube multifunction advanced pilot systems interface (APSI) displays.

Weapons: It can carry nine weapons at a go - five on the fuselage and two on each wing. It is also armed with two internally mounted, high-firing-rate 30mm guns. Mirage 2000 has an upgraded digital weapon delivery and navigation system (WDNS). The aircraft is fitted with a TV/CT CLDP laser designation pod from Thales Optronics, which provides the capability to fire laser-guided weapons by day and night.

Trust on Mirage 2000: India first used Mirage 2000 fighter jets in Kargil war in 1999. It became IAF's lead fighter in targeting Pakistani intruders in the mountainous Kargil region. Armed with laser-guided bombs, it destroyed critical enemy positions at Tiger Hill and the major re-supply base in Batalik.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Mirage 2000 can fly at low altitude without being noticed.
• Latest version of Mirage has hands-on throttle and stick (HOTAS) control.
• It can carry nine weapons - five on the fuselage and two on each wing.