IAF signs Rs 135cr contract with Indian startup for Mirage simulators to train its fighter pilots
NEW DELHI: The Indian Air Force has signed a Rs 135-crore contract with Indian startup Threye Interactive, a subsidiary of NewSpace Research & Technologies, to develop part-task simulators for its Mirage 2000 fighter jets.“An Indian startup trusted by IAF with training a frontline fighter fleet,” NewSpace Research & Technologies said in a post on X on Wednesday, confirming the contract with IAF. The Delhi-based startup will provide indigenous part-task combat training simulators specifically designed for the Mirage 2000 fleet.A part-task simulator focuses on a specific part of a pilot’s job. Instead of recreating an entire flight from take-off to landing, it allows pilots to practise tasks such as using the radar, identifying a target, selecting a weapon or responding to a threat. A pilot can work through a difficult sequence, review mistakes and try again without using an actual fighter or consuming flying hours. The deal will therefore help pilots practise demanding combat procedures on the ground.This simulator is also designed to support real-time networking, enabling multi-crew exercises in scenarios challenging or too costly to reproduce in the air.The Mirage 2000 fleet has been part of the IAF for four decades. As a precision-strike fighter jet, the Mirage 2000 played key roles in the 1999 Kargil conflict and the 2019 Balakot air strike. The French fighter fleet has also undergone a major upgrade, executed by maker Dassault Aviation, Thales and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.The Department of Defence Production lists the Mirage 2000 part-task trainer among the DISC-5 challenges assigned to the IAF. The requirement was for a system that could support basic flying and simulation of the upgraded aircraft’s existing modes and functions. The procurement shows the service intends to use it for structured training rather than rely only on live sorties for selected procedures and mission rehearsal.
