Surgical Strike on Pakistan: Know why IAF uses Mirage 2000 for Airstrike

New Delhi: As many as 12 Mirage 2000 fighter jets of the Indian Air Force struck Jaish-e-Muhammed (JeM) terror launch pads in Balakot, Muzaffarabad and Chakothi areas in Pakistan in an early morning strike on Tuesday. The attack was carried out at around 3:30 am and lasted around 21 minutes, IAF sources have said. As per sources, the fighter jets dropped 1,000 kilogrammes of bombs at terrorist camps across the Line of Control.

Manufactured by France’s Dassault Aviation, Mirage 2000 is a fourth-generation aircraft and is seen as one of the best fighter aircraft in the world. Each jet is equipped to carry a heavy payload and top-of-the-line artillery. The French-made aircraft is powerful so much so that it has a maximum speed of 2,000 km per hour.

What makes the strike a serious offensive against Pakistan is that Balakot falls beyond Pakistan Occupied Kashmir in proper Pakistani territory. (PTI)

Specifications of the Mirage 2000 jet:

Span – 29.9 feet

Length – 47 ft

Maximum take-off weight – 38,500 lbs

Combat weight – 21,000 lbs

Internal weapons – 2 * 30 mm guns

Maximum Mach number Mach – 2.2+

Source: DASSAULT Aviation