New Delhi, Jan 8 - French defence and electronics major Thales is to convert four to six Indian Navy minesweepers into state-of-the-art mine hunters in a deal believed to be worth $50 million.
The company is also in advanced negotiations with the Indian Air Force (IAF) for a generational upgrade of its Mirage-2000 combat jets, even as it is 'completely open to collaboration' with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for the fabrication and launch of satellites.
Speaking about the Mirage-2000s, the official said the project would involve a 'total upgrade of avionics and radars minus the engines'.
'We will be completely changing the generation the aircraft to take from 1980 vintage to 2010-era jets that can operate for another 25 years,' the official added.
'Our negotiations are in an advanced stage and we are now awaiting an RFP (request for proposal) from the Indian Air Force,' the official said, adding that the process could take anything from six months to two years.
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