Posted on 08/09/2013 6:00:59 PM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
Brazilian Air Force to Retire Mirage 2000 by Year’s End
Brazil plans to withdraw from service 12 Mirage 2000C/B fighters operating with the 1st Air Defense Group, currently providing the mainstay of the country’s air-defense force. The jet fighters also known as ‘Jaguars’ are operating from Annapolis, about 140 km from the capital Brasilia. These fighters were acquired from French Air Force surplus in 2005 for $74 millions to replace older Mirage IIIBR fighter jets. France delivered three batches of the fighters in 2006, 2007 and 2008. At the time, the life expectancy of these refurbished fighters should last for 16-18 years (till 2025), however, after merely six years most of the small fleet exhausted its remaining operational life and required a temporary life extension plan to keep them flying until the next generation F-X2 was due.
The two years passed, but the decision on F-X2 is still pending and now, even the extra life of these Mirages has been depleted, with the jets reaching the absolute end of their operational life, and no further investment is in sight for further modernization. Since Brazil acquired the old variant (B/C) of Mirage 2000 it was not well equipped, and carried relatively obsolete weapons – Matra 530D and Magic II missiles. The radar did not provide Beyond Visual Range capability while navigation equipment was far from state of the art. The political changes in Brasilia, with the new president and defense minister at the helm means that the jets, bought by the former regime, will not be missed.
To fill the gap the Brazilian Air Force is planning to replace those jets with 6-12 modernized F-5Es obtained from the Royal Jordanian Air Force. Embraer is upgrading these fighters under a comprehensive modernization plan that initially included older Brazilian Air Force F-5E/Fs. Sofar 46 planes have gone through the upgrade and 11 more are planned to enter the process. While the F-5E has been upgraded with modern avionics and weaponry, its radar falls short of the radar carried by the Mirage 2000.
The Brazilian Air Force has examined several options for acquiring modernized second-hand fighters, but rejected those proposals, as it is about to decide on the $4.5–6 billion F-X2 acquisition (which has been dragged over more than a decade). For the F-X2 Brazil is considering three Generation 4.5 fighters – The US made Boeing Super-Hornet, Swedish developed SAAB Gripen NG and Dassault Rafale from France. More editorial reserved for subscribers
They could replace them with those jets from India, the HAL Tejas... they have that same basic triangular shape
70’s technology at its best
not sure why they are looking at Super Hornets for ground based aircraft. F-15’s are better and F-16 are cheaper.
That would be the Space Shuttle.
My comment should have had a sarcasm tag.
Operational life equates to G forces, in the air and landing.
How in the world did the Brazilians burn through 20 yrs of life in a third that time?
Next question, who is Brazil’s enemy? What are they flying?
Hussein has been recruiting the Brazilian pinkos to his allies against America.
They could do way better with Israeli Kfir.
What do you call a French fighter jet coming to the aid of American soldiers in a desert battle?
Yes they could
The Spad was pretty good for it’s day.
My guess is the Saab would be the best buy.
Lost?
I get it. Good one. I have some French surplus military rifles. They are in great shape. I think they were only dropped once and never fired.
A mirage.
LMAO!
Do you remember this one: How many gears does a French tank have?
12 fighters are the mainstay of their Air Force?
That’s an oldie.....couldn’t find a fit for frog, so “lost” sounded fine.
Semper Fi, Mac!
Just reverse.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.