The Mirage 2000-B501 was used as a testbed to evaluate the integration of the RBE2 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar and the forward sector optronics (FSO) system developed for the Rafale fighter jet.[1][4]
The RBE2 AESA radar was successfully tested on the Mirage 2000-B501 demonstrator aircraft, confirming that it could be integrated into the Mirage 2000's airframe.[4] However, the combined weight of the RBE2 radar and FSO system created some operational limitations, requiring the addition of a 300kg ballast in the rear of the aircraft, reduced fuel capacity, and a 7% increase in fuel consumption.[4]
Despite these integration challenges, the successful testing of the RBE2 AESA on the Mirage 2000-B501 was an important milestone. It demonstrated the potential to upgrade existing Mirage 2000 aircraft with more advanced radar technology, even if the full integration proved difficult.[1][4]
The inability to integrate the RBE2 AESA radar without significant compromises was one of the factors that led India to ultimately decide against upgrading its Mirage 2000 fleet to the more advanced 2000-5 standard. The high cost of the upgrade and lack of key capabilities like the AESA radar made the investment less appealing.[2]
While the Mirage 2000-B501 test program showed the technical feasibility of integrating the RBE2 radar, the practical challenges and limitations highlighted the tradeoffs involved in upgrading an older airframe versus acquiring new fighter jets with more advanced capabilities from the start.[2][4]
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