In November 2021, the French security and defense services company [ESSD] ARES, for Advanced Redair European Squadron, formed from the merger of SDTS and SECAREO, looked well placed to take over the Qatari Air Force’s twelve Mirage 2000-5 EDA/DDA [QEAF] was then preparing to withdraw from service after ordering 36 Rafales, 36 F-15QAs and 24 Eurofighter Typhoon.
In fact, ARES had prioritized the acquisition of used Mirage 2000s at the time to meet the European Air Force’s demand for Red Air training. In addition, it had just received a contract for 3600 flight hours in favor of the French Navy.
The Qatari Mirage 2000-5 also had all the qualities required in view of its potential. Delivered in the late 1990s, these devices were used very little at the time. And according to the daily Les Echos, the case was nearing completion, with the ex-QEAF planes even having to be delivered before April 2022.
Indonesia Akan Akusisi Mirage 2000-5 Bekas Qatar!
Angkatan Udara Indonesia (TNI-AU) dikabarkan menjadi pembeli armada pesawat tempur Dassault Mirage 2000-5 milik Qatar yang telah pensiun setelah ledima penggantian dengan pesawat baru. (1) pic.twitter.com/ouvG0JOacv
— Mighty War (@MightyWar3) October 23, 2022
However, things did not go as planned… Finally, according to Intelligence Online, the Qatari Mirage 2000-5 was about to be sold to Tentara Nasional Indonesia – Angkatan Udara [TNI-AU], i.e. the Indonesian Air Force. As a reminder, the company recently ordered a batch of six Rafales, with a first installment being paid to Dassault Aviation. As a reminder, Jakarta plans to purchase a total of 42 aircraft.
For the TNI-AU, the acquisition of the Mirage 2000-5 from the QEAF would provide a double blow: on the one hand, it could actually withdraw the Su-27/30 from service so that it no longer has to depend on Russia, while at the same time giving its pilots the opportunity to familiarize themselves with a French-designed aircraft until the first six Rafales arrive.
However, not all Qatari Mirage 2000-5s can be in-flight refueling, as the extent of Qatari territory does not justify such a capability. This is not the case in Indonesia, which covers 1,900,569 km2 …
However, the possible salvage of this Mirage 2000-5 by the TNI-AU has not yet been confirmed by Qatar at the moment. [toujours discret dans ce genre d’affaire]nor from Jakarta.