With the air strikes on “the biggest JeM terror camp in Balakot,” by the Indian Air Force on Tuesday, 26 February, in which 12 Mirage 2000 Indian Fighter jets reportedly dropped 1,000 kg bombs destroying terror camps across the LoC on the Pakistani side, the fighter aircraft has once again proven that it is the main aerial battle horse of the IAF.

The single-engine, delta-wing, fourth-generation Mirage-2000 multi-role fighter aircraft made their mark with precision air strikes on Tiger Hill and other targets during the Kargil conflict in 1999.

However, the 12 Mirage 2000 aircraft, which took off from the Ambala air force base in the early hours of Tuesday, were much more sophisticated than the Mirage 2000 variant which operated during the Kargil conflict.

According to experts, the Mirage 2000's precision, modern avionics and the ability to carry modern warheads make this French aircraft still a top choice for the IAF.