An Indian Air Force (IAF) Mirage 2000 twin-seater fighter jet crashed today near Shivpuri in Madhya Pradesh during a routine training flight. Fortunately, both pilots emerged safely from the incident, according to official reports.
Authorities have initiated a court of inquiry to determine the cause of the crash.
The Mirage 2000, a multirole combat aircraft manufactured by France’s Dassault Aviation, first flew in 1978 and was officially inducted into the French Air Force in 1984. According to Dassault’s website, 600 units of the Mirage 2000 have been produced, half of which were exported to eight countries, including India. The aircraft is available in single-seater and twin-seater versions.
In its service with the IAF, the Mirage 2000 has demonstrated notable effectiveness. It played a crucial role during the Kargil War, achieving high success rates.
The aircraft was instrumental in delivering laser-guided bombs with precision on enemy positions occupied by terrorists and Pakistani forces. Moreover, in February 2019, the IAF utilized this reliable jet to carry out a significant airstrike on a terrorist camp located deep within Pakistan’s Balakot region.
