Dassault Mirage
| Industry | Aerospace |
|---|---|
| Founder | Marcel Dassault |
| Headquarters | France |
| Products | Mirage series of jet aircraft, including Mirage III, Mirage 5, Mirage 50, Mirage IV, Mirage F1, Mirage 2000, and prototypes such as Mirage F2, Mirage G series, and Mirage 4000 |
Mirage encompasses a range of jet aircraft developed by the French manufacturer Dassault Aviation (previously Avions Marcel Dassault), primarily supersonic fighters featuring delta wing designs. The Mirage III series stands out as the most prolific and extensively adapted model, produced by Dassault and other manufacturers. Various iterations bore alternate names, and some unrelated models also carried the Mirage designation.
Early prototypes
- The MD550 Mystère Delta was Dassault's initial experimental delta-wing jet, serving as the foundation for the Mirage lineup. Two units were constructed, later rebranded as Mirage I and II:
Mirage III/5/50 series
This prominent Mirage family consists of supersonic delta-wing fighters sharing a common airframe but differing in engines, avionics, and specific features. Early versions lacked tails; subsequent models incorporated canard foreplanes.
France
Major production variants include:
- Mirage III, the principal production aircraft.
- Mirage 5, derived from the Mirage III platform.
- Mirage 50, a further development of the Mirage 5.
Significant prototypes and smaller projects:
- Balzac, Mirage IIIT, and Mirage IIIV: experimental supersonic VTOL jets; Balzac and IIIV incorporated VTOL capabilities.
- Milan: a modified Mirage III equipped with retractable canard foreplanes.
- Mirage IIING: based on the Mirage 50, featuring fixed canard foreplanes similar to those on Milan; only one aircraft was converted.
Israel
Israel produced advanced variants of the Mirage 5:
- IAI Nesher, a Mirage 5 upgraded with modern avionics.
- IAI Kfir, featuring a new engine, enhanced avionics, and canard foreplanes.
- IAI Nammer, a prototype with further engine improvements, advanced avionics, and canards.
Pakistan
Pakistan operated secondhand Mirage IIIs and 5s acquired from France and Australia.
- The Project ROSE initiative modernized these fleets by installing contemporary avionics.
South Africa
South Africa adapted its Mirage III inventory to suit local requirements through the Atlas Cheetah, an upgraded variant based on the IAI Kfir design.
Chile
Chile improved its Mirage 50 fleet using the ENAER Pantera program (including Mirage 50CN and 50DC models), an upgrade influenced by the IAI Kfir.
Production models
- Mirage IV: A large delta-winged, tailless supersonic nuclear bomber; it represents the biggest member of the Mirage family.
- Mirage F1 and its variant MF2000: Supersonic fighters with conventional configurations.
- Mirage 2000: A tailless delta-wing supersonic fighter succeeding the Mirage 50, featuring a redesigned airframe.
Prototypes
- Mirage F2: A larger strike fighter with more power than the conventionally tailed F1.
- Mirage G, along with G4 and G8: Variable-geometry (swing-wing) fighter prototypes; the G was a swing-wing adaptation of the F2, while G4 and G8 were twin-engine versions.
- Mirage 4000, also known as the Super Mirage 4000: A prototype representing an enlarged version of the Mirage 2000.
Project studies
- Mirage 6000: The MD.750 was a Mach 3-capable interceptor developed as part of the Système Avion Mach Élevé (SAME) initiative.
Bibliography
- Garcia, Miguel, and Waseb Al-Qisuini. Iraqi Mirages in Combat: The Story of the F. I EQ in Iraq. Monee, Illinois, 2018.
- Green, W. and Swanborough, G.; The Complete Book of Fighters, Salamander, 1994.
- France (III), q-zon-fighterplanes.com (retrieved 11:54, 2 October 2015 (UTC))
- Rivas, Santiago, and Juan Carlos Cicalesi. Latin American Mirages: Mirage III / 5 / F.1 / 2000 in Service with South American Air Arms. Houston, TX: Harpia Publishing, 2010.