Taiwan’s Air Force is taking strategic and risk-hedging measures by considering the extension of the service life of its Dassault Mirage 2000 fighter jets. The nation’s Air Force Command Headquarters announced its intention to assess whether nine of these Mirage 2000-5DI twin-seat fighters can continue to serve for another 20 years.
玄史生, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Taiwan procured a fleet of 60 Mirage fighters starting in 1997, and as these aircraft are now entering a later stage of their life cycle, the cost of maintaining and repairing them has escalated, surpassing that of other aircraft in the Air Force’s arsenal.
To evaluate the feasibility of extending their life, Taiwan has enlisted the support of French aircraft manufacturer Dassault Aviation. The assessment process, which has been budgeted at $4.77 million, is expected to be completed by July 2026.
One key reason driving this initiative is the strategic flexibility that the two-seater Mirage planes offer. They can be utilized for both regular mission deployments and training exercises for new recruits, enhancing the Air Force’s operational capabilities.
Additionally, Taiwan’s procurement of 66 new F-16C/Ds fighter jets from the United States has faced delays in delivery, creating uncertainties about their timely availability. With the first two fighters initially expected by the end of 2023, the postponement to the third quarter of 2024 has raised concerns.
Retiring all of the Mirage-2000 fleet without the certainty of the F-16Vs could result in personnel and military power gaps. Thus, retaining the French fighters provides a safeguard against this potential risk.
Despite six Mirage-2000 fighters being lost over the years due to accidents, these aircraft remain crucial assets in Taiwan’s fleet, primarily deployed to safeguard the nation’s northern airspace.
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