A highly upgraded variant of Mirage 2000D—known as the Mirage 2000DRMV—has now become fully operational with the French Air and Space Forces. The aircraft will stay in service for the next decade and fly alongside the more advanced Rafale fighter jets.
The Armée de l’Air et de l’Espace (AAE), or the French Air and Space Force, announced on April 9 that its upgraded Mirage 2000D combat aircraft has officially become operational.
“The renovated Mirage 2000D is officially operational. A fleet of 50 modernized aircraft will be in service by the end of 2025 from Air Base 133 in Nancy-Ochey,” the service said in a statement.
The Mirage 2000D is the conventional two-seat, all-weather attack variant of the nuclear variant Mirage 2000N, also popularly known as its cousin. It was designed specifically for long-range precision attacks and close air support missions.
Known as the Mirage 2000DRMV, the aircraft has received improved avionics and enhanced firepower, making it more lethal than before.
The operationalization of the aircraft is a major milestone for the AAE. It marks the conclusion of a ten-year mid-life upgrade (MLU) initiative that began in 2015 to increase the aircraft’s service life and to keep it combat-capable through the 2030s.
The upgraded Mirage 2000D will operate alongside the Rafale as a force multiplier in close air support, interdiction, and strike missions. It will remain in service till 2035, after which Rafales will completely replace it.
As part of force modernization, France is currently expanding production of the F4 variant of Rafale while working on the F5 variant, which will have more powerful engines, a massive loyal wingman, and a nuclear-armed hypersonic missile, among other things. The induction of the Rafale F5 into service is anticipated by 2030.
In addition, it is pursuing a sixth-generation aircraft program, the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), in collaboration with Germany and Spain. This next-gen aircraft is expected to enter service by 2045.
Against that backdrop, upgrading these Mirage 2000D aircraft will allow France enough room to develop and induct the Rafale F5 and FCAS aircraft.
Despite its age, the upgraded Mirage 2000 remains a force to reckon with, having participated in combat across multiple battlefields. The aircraft was deployed for combat missions in the Middle East, the Sahel region in Africa, and Afghanistan. Additionally, the Mirage 2000D fleet has provided support for operations from airbases in Niger, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan, according to multiple reports.
While France has not indicated as such, the newly upgraded Mirage 2000D could be deployed in the Middle East amid burgeoning threats from regional militias.
For instance, the AAE deployed Mirage 2000-5F and Rafale fighters over the Red Sea in February this year to combat attacks launched by the Houthis, the Yemen-based militia group that has been waging war against Israel and attacking ships transiting the Red Sea.
There are high hopes attached to the Mirage 2000DRMV because the aircraft is one of the most combat-hardened machines in service with the AAE.
Even in its other variants, the Mirage 2000 continues to be a fierce war machine. It is operated by several countries, including Egypt, Greece, India, Peru, Taiwan, the UAE, and France, and has seen combat at various battlefields.
As France winds down the older Mirage 2000 variants, some have been transferred to the Ukrainian Air Force, where they are defending the embattled country against Russian aerial strikes, as previously reported by the Eurasian Times.
What Is The Upgraded Mirage Like?
Rénovation Mi-Vie (RMV), the mid-life upgrade program, was initiated in 2015 to convert the Mirage 2000D into a multi-role fighter that could operate alongside the latest Rafale multi-role fighter jet.
Initially, the service sought to upgrade 55 Mirage 2000D aircraft, which was reduced to 48 in the 2024–2030 Military Programming Law (Loi de programmation militaire, LPM). Later, the authorities decided to upgrade 50 of these fighter jets to the Mirage 2000DRMV variant.
As part of this upgrade, the aircraft’s cockpit system has been totally redesigned, with a more digital and user-friendly interface to improve pilots’ situational awareness. A spokesperson from the French Air and Space Forces said, “Thanks to the new onboard architecture and improved ergonomics, pilots can now better manage complex missions, especially in environments saturated with modern air-defense systems.”
The upgraded variant also has a redesigned center-line drop tank that holds fuel and includes integrated countermeasures dispensers. This means the chaff and flare launchers have doubled from two to four.
An electronic intelligence (ELINT) system is also installed in a backup centerline drop tank. In situations demanding extended-range operations, the fighters can rely on Airbus A330 MRTT or A400M Atlas aircraft with hose-and-drogue systems to support in-flight refueling.
The AAE described the upgraded avionics as comprising “a renovated architecture, a more intuitive and digitalized dashboard, [and an] ergonomic and real-time tactical vision [system].”
The Mirage 2000D will now be able to launch additional weapons, including the lethal American-origin 1,000-pound GBU-48, 500-pound GBU-49, and 2,000-pound GBU-50 Enhanced Paveway II precision-guided bombs for ground attacks. It can also fire the MICA infrared air-to-air missiles, which have replaced the retired MBDA R550 Magic 2 short-range air-to-air missile (AAM). The aircraft has also been armed with the Sagem Armement Air-Sol Modulaire (AASM) Hammer precision-guided munition (PGM).
Moreover, the aircraft could now use the Thales Talios laser designation pod that is also installed on the Rafale. For the first time, the upgraded jet has been equipped with gun armament, as the CC422 30mm cannon pod has been mounted on it.
In addition to the above, the aircraft has received a more advanced Targeting Long-range Identification Optronic System (TALIOS) pod, which replaces outdated ATLIS II, PDL CTS, and Damocles pods. TALIOS is a dual-purpose pod that can be used for both targeting and tactical reconnaissance.
The pod’s persistent vision and embedded artificial intelligence not only let pilots and weapon system operators carry out air-to-ground missions more efficiently than previously, but they also give ground forces dependable situational awareness in real time.
Moreover, a new Link-16 database system that can send photos and videos from the TALIOS pod to the ground units has also been installed.
The first updated Mirage 2000DRMV was turned over to the French Air and Space Force for assessment as early as 2021. It was reportedly deployed to Djibouti for hot-weather testing. The upgraded aircraft tested the entire “ecosystem” of the aircraft, including mission planning, debriefing, and support equipment, under harsh weather conditions.
The induction of the Mirage 2000DRMV will significantly bolster the French capability, especially since it assumes a more active role in Europe’s defense. On receiving the aircraft, General Jérôme Bellanger, the Chief of Staff of AAE, said, “The Mirage 2000D RMV enters service: a new lease of life for a robust aircraft proven in all theaters of operation. Successful modernization to fight, always.”
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