MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Peruvian Air Force upgrading its 12 Mirage 2000 and 18 MIG-29

The Mirages 2000 were purchased in 1986 by then President Belaunde Terry

The Peruvian Air Force revealed the upgrading of its Mirage 2000 and MIG-29 combat aircraft demanding an investment of 266 million dollars, reported the Sunday edition of Diario Correo.

The work is being done in a Peruvian Air Force base to the north of the country and the whole operation should be concluded by 2014.

Peru purchased the Mirages from France in 1986 and the upgrading of the 12 units, involving 140 million dollars is being done by Peruvian engineers and Air Force experts with the technical advise from the French company Dassault Aviation under a program named Inspection VP5.

The newspaper also reported that the Russian manufactured 18 MIG-29 are undergoing refurbishing at a cost estimated in 126 million dollars. However this leg of the program is behind schedule since it is only done by Russian engineers.

The two operations are part of a plan started by President Alejandro Toledo over six years ago with the purpose of modernizing the capability of the Peruvian Air Force. They intend to improve technology, avionics and engines. Testing with some of the Mirages should begin in a few weeks time.

Meantime pilots are kept trained by travelling to the French air base Mont de Marsan where they practice with simulators emergency and bombing situations plus missile targeting, concludes Diario Correo.