Why have our Mirage-2000s flown so little, while the F-5s continue to fly?

Video from the channel AEROMIL about Northrop F-5, linked on its Above Ten Thousand entry. Duration: 12:16. Language: Portuguese. Video type: Documentary.

The video explains why the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) retired its Mirage 2000s, designated F-2000, after only a few years in service, while the F-5s keep flying.

Since the 1990s there had been concern about the end of the service life of the Mirage III and F-5, whose retirement was expected around 2004-2005 and 2007-2010. The F-X programme brought together in 2001 the Mirage 2000-5 Mk2 (Embraer with Dassault), Eurofighter Typhoon, MiG-29 SMT, Su-27 and Su-35, F/A-18 Super Hornet, F-16 and JAS 39 Gripen C/D, but the government cancelled it in 2005 for lack of funds. As a stopgap, second-hand aircraft were studied (Kfir C10, Su-27, Mirage 2000 and F-16), while Saab offered to lease 12 to 24 new Gripen C/D. The FAB chose 12 French Mirage 2000s nearing the end of their operational life, which arrived by air in 2006. In parallel, the F-5s were upgraded at Embraer to the F-5M standard.

The Mirages cost 60 million dollars (5 per aircraft) plus 20 million in equipment and spares, with a planned service life to 2011 and about 1,000 hours per aircraft; the FAB extended their use by two years by cannibalising six airframes. Upgrading them would have cost between 15 and 20 million dollars per aircraft, equivalent to three or four F-5s. The F-5M ended up ahead technologically (beyond-visual-range combat, datalink, helmet-mounted sight), while the Mirage led in performance (Mach 2 versus Mach 1.6, better climb and ceiling). The F-X2 programme was ultimately won by the Gripen E/F.