Aerial Warfare / Indian Air Force.The Mirage 2000 of the Indian Air Force (IAF) has been in squadron service since 1990. The IAF's initial order with Dassault in 1982 was for 44 single-seat and five two-seat multi-role fighters to counter F-16s proposed for the Pakistan Air Force; ten more uprated aircraft were delivered in 2007. The Mirage 2000 is equipped with built-in twin 30 mm revolver-type cannon with 125 rounds each and selectable fire rates of 1;200 or 1;800 rounds per minute. Nine underwing and fuselage hardpoints can carry ordnance and/or external fuel up to a maximum of 13;900 lb. Power plant is a SNECMA M53 turbofan generating 15;000 lb dry thrust and 21;000 lb in afterburner; giving the fighter a maximum speed of 1;452 mph / Mach 2.2 at high altitude; 690 mph at sea level. Range is 960 miles; ferry range is 2.072 miles with auxiliary fuel. Service ceiling is 55;970 feet. The aircraft illustrated is one flown by No.1 Squadron IAF 'Tigers'; the second unit to convert onto the type; the first being No.2 'Battleaxes' which had been the first foreign unit to fly the 2000 and gave the type its Indian name 'Vajra' ('Lightning'). The Tigers flew 274 air defence and strike sorties in Operation Safed Sagar from May to July 1999 during the Kargil War; supporting No.7 Squadron which flew 240 strike sorties; dropping 121;000 lb of ordnance.Illustration (Tim Brown); 2019.