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List of Dassault Mirage III operators

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Operators of the Mirage III and its domestic as well as foreign derivatives, including the Mirage 5

This is a list of Dassault Mirage IIIs, Dassault Mirage 5s, and Mirage 50s used by national air forces. The Central Intelligence Agency once estimated that a little over 800 of the three aircraft types had been exported to various countries around the world.[1]

The key "1S" indicates a single-seat Mirage fighter, while "2S" indicates a two-seat Mirage, and "PR" indicates a photo reconnaissance aircraft.

Operators

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Abu Dhabi and the UAE

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Dassault Mirage 5EAD, taxiway of Istres (France) on 3 July 1976, delivered to Abu Dhabi Air Force (ADAF).
Abu Dhabi Defence Force
United Arab Emirates Air Force
  • 1S: 12 5AD + 14 5EAD[2]
  • 2S: 3 5DAD[2]
  • PR: 3 RAD[2]

Out of Service. All of the remaining aircraft (7 5AD, 9 5EAD, 2 5DAD, and 1 5RAD) were sold to Egypt in 2004.[3]

Argentina

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Argentina Air Force Dassault Mirage IIIEA
Argentine Air Force
  • 1S: 19 IIICJ + 17 IIIEA[4]
  • 2S: 3 IIIBJ + 4 IIIDA[4]
  • Plus 35 IAI 1S Dagger A + 4 2S Dagger T.[5] Survivors locally updated to Finger standards.
  • Plus 10 5P.[6] Survivors (9) locally updated to Mara standards.[7]
  • IIICJs & IIIBJs were ex-Israeli, 5Ps were ex-Peruvian.[8] All were retired in December 2015.[9]

Australia

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A left side view of a Mirage IIID (bottom) and Mirage IIIO aircraft in flight during a combined US-Australian Air Force exercise, Pacific Consort, 1980
Royal Australian Air Force

116 Mirage IIIs (RAAF serials A3-1 to -116) were in service with the RAAF from 1964 to 1989.[10]

Most built locally, 50 sold to Pakistan in 1990, together with additional engines and spare parts.[18]

Belgium

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Belgian Air Force

All but three of the aircraft were built locally under license.[22] A minor "MIRSIP" upgrade was performed on 20 survivors in the early 1990s, but all were then retired. 25 aircraft, including all of the upgraded ones, were transferred to Chile as Elkans in 1995-1996.[23]

Total number of aircraft delivered:

Brazil

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Mirage IIIBBR
Brazilian Air Force
  • 1S: 22 IIIEBR (16 new-build and 6 second-hand French Mirage IIIEs)[24]
  • 2S: 6 IIIDBR (4 new-build and 2 second-hand French Mirage IIIRs rebuilt as twin-seat aircraft) + 4 IIIBBR (2 second-hand French Mirage IIIBEs and 2 second-hand Zairian Mirage 5DMs)[24]

Survivors upgraded with canards starting in the late 1980s.[25] Last one retired in 2005.[26]

Chile

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Chile Air Force Dassault (SABCA) Mirage 5MA Elkan
Chilean Air Force
  • 1S: 6 50C + 8 50FC + 15 5MA "Elkan"[27]
  • 2S: 3 50DC + 5 5MD "Elkan" + 1 non-modernized ex-Belgian Air Force 5BD[27]
  • PR: 4 non-modernized ex-Belgian Air Force 5BR[23]

50FC were upgraded by Dassault from French Air Force 5Fs.[28] All of the surviving Mirage 50s were updated by Enaer to Pantera standard from 1988 to 2002.[29] Elkans are modernized ex-Belgian Air Force Mirage 5s.[23] Some ex-South African Cheetahs as spares.[citation needed] Retired on 31 December 2007[30]

Colombia

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Colombian Air Force
  • 1S: 14 5COA. Survivors converted to 5COAM[31]
  • 2S: 2 5COD. Survivors converted to 5CODM[31]
  • PR: 2 5COR. Survivor converted to 5COAM[31]

Starting in the late 1980s, surviving Colombian Mirages were upgraded to an improved standard, with new avionics similar to those found on the Kfir, as well as canards and an in-flight refueling probe. The upgraded aircraft were designated Mirage 5COAM/CODM.[32] All were retired in 2009.[33]

Ecuador

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Ecuadorian Air Force

Egypt

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Two Egyptian Air Force Mirage 5 fighter jets during the military exercise Bright Star 2009 in Egypt.
Egyptian Air Force

France

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French Mirage IIIR
French Air Force
  • 1S: 95 IIIC + 183 IIIE + 58 5F
  • 2S: 27 IIIB + 5 IIIB1 + 10 IIIB2 + 20 IIIBE
  • PR: 50 IIIR + 20 IIIRD

All aircraft retired.

Gabon

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Gabon Air Force
  • 1S: 3 5G + 4 5G2 (including 2 undelivered Zairian 5Ms)[37]
  • 2S: 2 5DG + 2 5DG2[37]

Retired around 2006-2008, although all flying activity had already been stopped in the mid-1990s.[38]

Israel

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A Mirage IIICJ at the Israeli Air Force Museum
Israeli Air Force
  • 1S: 72 IIICJ[45]
  • 2S: 4 IIIBJ[46]
  • 2 Mirage IIIRJ photo reconnaissance aircraft[citation needed]
  • IAI assembled 60 Neshers, with 50 single-seaters and 10 two-seat Nesher Ts.[44]

All of the aircraft are withdrawn from use. 39 Neshers, including 4 two-seaters, were transferred to Argentina between 1978 and the beginning of 1982.[5] 19 IIICJ and 3 IIIBJ followed, between December 1982 and February 1983.[47]

Lebanon

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Lebanese Air Force

All surviving aircraft (9 IIIEL and 1 IIIBL) were sold to Pakistan in 2000.[49]

Libya

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Libyan Air Force

Most of the surviving aircraft (32 5D, 29 5DE, 12 5DD and 6 5DR) were sold to Pakistan as part of Project ROSE in 2004-2005.[49]

Pakistan

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Pakistan Air Force
Pakistan Air Force Mirage III Aircraft at PAF Museum, Karachi, Pakistan

The Pakistan Air Force is the largest operator of the Dassault Mirage III/5 with a fleet strength of around 156 aircraft.[citation needed] The fleet consists of fighters built for Pakistan (Mirage IIIEP, IIIRP, IIIDP, IIIRP2, 5PA, 5PA2, 5PA3, 5DPA2) in the 1960s, 70s and 80s,[53] as well as used French, Australian, Libyan, Spanish and Lebanese aircraft bought in the 1990s and early 2000s.[54] Some 35 of the Australian-built Mirage IIIO variant were modernized with new avionics under the first stage of the ROSE (Retrofit Of Strike Element) upgrade programme to make air superiority specialized "ROSE I" fighters.[52]

Total number of aircraft delivered:

  • 1S: 18 IIIEP + 28 5PA + 18 5PA2 + 12 5PA3 + 43 IIIO + 15 IIIEE + 35 5F + 32 5D + 29 5DE[55]
  • 2S: 5 IIIDP + 2 5DPA2 + 7 IIID + 9 IIIBE + 5 IIIDE + 1 IIIEL + 12 5DD[55]
  • PR: 3 IIIRP + 10 IIIRP2 + 6 5DR[56]

Note that some of the second-hand aircraft never flew with the PAF, being used only for spare parts or as training aids. Pakistan is capable of locally refurbishing its Mirages at the Mirage Rebuild Factory of the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex.[54]

All Mirage III/Mirage 5 aircraft are to be retired and replaced with the Pakistan/China produced JF-17 by 2025.[citation needed]

Peru

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Peruvian Air Force
  • 1S: 22 5P + 10 5P3 + 2 5P4[6]
  • 2S: 4 5DP + 1 5DP3 + 1 5DP4[6]

10 5P were transferred to Argentina in 1982. All of the 15 surviving aircraft were upgraded to Mirage 5P4/5DP4 standards from 1985 to 1990.[6] Survivors stored by 2002.[57]

South Africa

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South African Mirage IIICZ.
South African Air Force

All out of service, some having been upgraded to Cheetah standards. There were 16 Cheetah E conversions (all out of service), 16 Cheetah D conversions, and one Cheetah R conversion.[61] Some Cheetah Es were sold to Chile for use as spare parts for Panteras.[citation needed]

Spain

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Spanish Mirage IIIEE at Valencia (Spain)
Spanish Air Force

Upgrade plan (head-up display, ALE-40 decoy launchers, AIM-9L/AGM-65G capability, two extra hardpoints) cancelled in 1991. Withdrawn from service in October 1992.[63] Some survivors (15 IIIEE and 5 IIIDE) were used as part of the payment for the Mirage F1M upgrade and later sold to Pakistan.[49]

Switzerland

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Dassault Mirage IIIRS, R-2108, Swiss Air Force
Swiss Air Force

Most built locally, many upgraded with canards, optics etc.[66] Withdrawn from service in 2003 (Mirage IIIRS).[67] One Mirage IIIDS (J-2012, civilian immatriculation HB-RDF) still flies for civilian passengers.[68]

Total number of aircraft delivered:

  • 1S: 1 IIICS + 36 IIIS[69]
  • 2S: 3 IIIBS + 2 IIIDS[70]
  • PR: 18 IIIRS[71]

Venezuela

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Venezuelan Air Force
  • 1S: 7 IIIEV (2 modernized to Mirage 50EV standards) + 6 5V (2 modernized to Mirage 50EV and 1 to Mirage 50DV standards) + 9 50EV (6 new-build and 3 modified ex-Zairian Mirage 5M)[72]
  • 2S: 3 5DV (1 modernized to Mirage 50DV standards) + 1 50DV (new-build)[72]

All of the surviving Mirage III/5s were modernized into Mirage 50s.[72] The last Mirage 50s were retired from service in November 2009. Six of them were donated to Ecuador.[34]

Zaire

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Zairean Air Force
  • 1S: 14 5M[73] (only 11 delivered)[74]
  • 2S: 3 5DM (former IIIBE, all delivered)[75]

The three undelivered Mirage 5Ms were bought back by Dassault in 1979. Four more followed in 1983. Of these, one became the first Egyptian Mirage 5E2, two were transformed into Mirage 5G2s for Gabon, three were rebuilt into Mirage 50EVs for Venezuela, and one served as a source of spares at Dassault's Biarritz facility.[76] In 1989, the six last surviving aircraft were brought back to France. Of these, two Mirage 5DMs were sold to Brazil in 1996, and four Mirage 5Ms went to Egypt in 2006.[77]

See also

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dassault Mirage III.

References

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  1. ^ "Arms Transfers: Upgrading Aircraft" (PDF). Langley: Central Intelligence Agency. June 1984. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 January 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  2. ^ a b c Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, p. 294
  3. ^ Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, pp. 298, 322
  4. ^ a b Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, pp. 242, 249
  5. ^ a b Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, p. 243
  6. ^ a b c d Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, p. 166
  7. ^ Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, p. 261
  8. ^ Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, pp. 249–250
  9. ^ "Formal farewell for Argentine Malvinas Mirage aircraft, after 40 years service". MercoPress. 17 August 2015.
  10. ^ a b Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, pp. 68, 78
  11. ^ a b Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, p. 77
  12. ^ Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, p. 73
  13. ^ Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, p. 75
  14. ^ Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, p. 78
  15. ^ Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, pp. 69, 71–72
  16. ^ Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, p. 69
  17. ^ Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, p. 68
  18. ^ Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, p. 152
  19. ^ Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, p. 184
  20. ^ Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, p. 185
  21. ^ Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, p. 187
  22. ^ a b c d Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, p. 178
  23. ^ a b c Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, p. 350
  24. ^ a b Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, p. 230
  25. ^ Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, pp. 231–232
  26. ^ Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, p. 235
  27. ^ a b Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, pp. 340, 350
  28. ^ Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, p. 340
  29. ^ Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, p. 346
  30. ^ "M50 en CHILE".
  31. ^ a b c Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, p. 268
  32. ^ Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, pp. 269–270
  33. ^ Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, p. 272
  34. ^ a b c Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, p. 283
  35. ^ a b c Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, p. 314
  36. ^ Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, p. 322
  37. ^ a b Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, p. 330
  38. ^ Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, p. 333
  39. ^ Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, p. 29
  40. ^ Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, p. 30
  41. ^ Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, p. 33
  42. ^ a b Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, p. 45
  43. ^ Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, p. 43
  44. ^ a b Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, p. 42
  45. ^ Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, p. 24
  46. ^ Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, pp. 24, 37
  47. ^ Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, p. 249
  48. ^ a b Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, p. 137
  49. ^ a b c Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, p. 154
  50. ^ a b c Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, p. 198
  51. ^ a b c d e Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, p. 159
  52. ^ a b c d Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, p. 155
  53. ^ Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, pp. 146, 148–150
  54. ^ a b Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, pp. 152, 154
  55. ^ a b Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, pp. 146, 148, 150, 152, 154
  56. ^ Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, pp. 146, 149, 154
  57. ^ Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, p. 172
  58. ^ Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, p. 124
  59. ^ a b Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, p. 125
  60. ^ a b c Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, p. 120
  61. ^ Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, pp. 129–130
  62. ^ a b Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, p. 216
  63. ^ Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, p. 225
  64. ^ a b Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, p. 106
  65. ^ a b c Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, pp. 102, 106
  66. ^ Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, p. 91
  67. ^ Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, p. 106
  68. ^ Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, p. 111
  69. ^ Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, pp. 84, 92
  70. ^ Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, pp. 82, 91
  71. ^ Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, p. 84
  72. ^ a b c Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, p. 278
  73. ^ Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, p. 304
  74. ^ Delalande, Arnaud (21 November 2017). "Jean Louis M'pele M'pele Flew Congo's Hot-Rod French Fighter". War Is Boring. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
  75. ^ Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, pp. 304, 309
  76. ^ Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, p. 309
  77. ^ Chenel, Liébert & Moreau 2014, pp. 309–310

Bibliography

[edit]
  • Chenel, Bernard; Liébert, Michel; Moreau, Eric (2014). Mirage III/5/50 en service à l'étranger. Le Vigen, France: Editions LELA Presse. ISBN 978-2-914017-76-3.
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