Dassault Mirage 5

Dassault Aviation
Industry	Aerospace, defense
Founded	1929
Headquarters	Saint-Cloud, France
Products	Military aircraft, civil aircraft, missiles
Website	www.dassault-aviation.com

The Dassault Mirage 5 is a French supersonic attack aircraft and fighter-bomber developed by Dassault Aviation during the 1960s, manufactured both domestically and internationally. It is a derivative of the acclaimed Mirage III, leading to numerous variants such as the IAI Kfir. In Pakistan, upgraded Mirage 5 models possess the capability to deliver nuclear weapons.

Initial development

The Mirage 5 was conceived following a request from the Israeli Air Force to Dassault, seeking the removal of the Mirage IIIE’s standard air intercept radar and avionics in favor of increased fuel capacity tailored for attack operations in the clear weather conditions typical of the Middle East. Israel placed an order for 50 units in September 1966. Certain versions retained radar systems depending on customer requirements.

Mirage 5

The inaugural flight of the Mirage 5 took place on 19 May 1967. While bearing resemblance to the Mirage III, it featured a lengthened, more streamlined nose that extended the fuselage by approximately half a meter, with the pitot tube repositioned beneath the nose. It maintained the twin DEFA cannons from the IIIE and introduced two additional pylons, bringing the total to seven, capable of supporting a maximum payload of 4,000 kg (8,800 lb). The SEPR rocket motor was omitted. Following escalating tensions in the Middle East, French President Charles de Gaulle imposed an embargo on Israeli Mirages on 3 June 1967. Despite this embargo, production proceeded, concluding by 1968 with Israel having completed payment. France prevented Israel from conducting training in Corsica amid suspicions regarding fuel tank acquisitions. Eventually, Israel accepted a reimbursement.

Some accounts indicate that clandestine collaboration resumed later, with Israel reportedly receiving 50 Mirage 5s dismantled in crates from the French Air Force while France retained the original batch as Mirage 5F models. Officially, Israel asserted that it constructed these aircraft domestically as IAI Nesher after acquiring technical blueprints.

Initially optimized for clear-weather strike missions, export versions equipped with varied avionics allowed a shift toward air combat roles. Electronic advancements enhanced performance despite elimination of the rear avionics bay; certain subvariants effectively evolved into "reimagined" Mirage IIIEs.

Reconnaissance and two-seat trainer versions were marketed under the names Mirage 5R and Mirage 5D, respectively.

The Mirage 5 saw exports to countries including Abu Dhabi, Belgium, Colombia, Egypt, Gabon, Libya, Pakistan, Peru, Venezuela, and Zaire, featuring multiple subvariant designations and avionics suites. Belgian aircraft predominantly integrated US-made avionics; some Egyptian examples were equipped with MS2 attack avionics derived from the Dassault-Dornier Alpha Jet.

In 1982, Pakistan’s Chief of Air Staff ACM Anwar Shamim procured an additional Mirage 5 squadron from France aimed at strengthening naval support operations.

During 1978 and 1980, Israel sold a total of 35 Neshers along with four trainers to Argentina, where they were designated as Daggers and later upgraded under the name Fingers. Argentina suffered losses of two Mirage IIIEAs and twelve Daggers throughout the Falklands War. To compensate for these losses, Peru transferred ten of its Mirage 5Ps—known locally as Mirage Mara—to Argentina.

South Africa acquired five Nesher trainers for evaluation during its Atlas Cheetah program; all were ultimately modernized to Cheetah D configuration.

Chile operated several Mirage 5s under the designation Mirage Elkan.

A total production run of 582 Mirage 5 aircraft was completed, including 51 Israeli-built Neshers.

Production in Belgium

In 1968, the Belgian authorities placed an order for 106 Mirage 5 aircraft from Dassault, with all but the initial unit of each model produced under license by SABCA within Belgium. The manufacturing of components took place at SABCA’s facility in Haren, near Brussels, while final assembly was conducted at the Gosselies airfield near Charleroi. The ATAR engines were manufactured by FN Moteurs located in Liège. SABCA was responsible for producing three distinct variants: the Mirage 5BA (designed for ground-attack missions), the Mirage 5BR (configured for reconnaissance), and the Mirage 5BD (used for training and conversion purposes).

By the end of the 1980s, Belgium launched the MIRage Safety Improvement Program (MIRSIP) aimed at modernizing 20 Mirages—comprising 15 Mirage 5BAs and 5 Mirage 5BDs. Although plans to install more powerful engines were abandoned due to budget constraints, upgrades incorporated a revamped cockpit, new ejection seats, laser rangefinders, and canards to improve takeoff performance and maneuverability. Despite cancellation by the government, SABCA completed these enhancements to support export opportunities. Eventually, Belgium sold all 20 upgraded jets to Chile, along with four unmodified Mirage 5BR reconnaissance aircraft and one Mirage 5BD trainer.

Mirage 50

The development of the Atar 9K50 engine during the 1970s gave rise to the Mirage 50, which boasted enhanced takeoff and climb capabilities as well as updated avionics such as the Cyrano IV radar system. Despite these improvements, export interest remained limited because the Mirage 5 platform was approaching obsolescence.

Chile acquired both newly manufactured Mirage 50s and upgraded Armée de l'Air Mirage 5s, subsequently modernizing them into what became known as the ENAER Pantera. This version featured fixed canards, refined aerodynamics, advanced avionics suites, in-flight refueling probes, strengthened landing gear, additional fuselage hardpoints, and an elongated nose section to accommodate new equipment.

In the early 1990s, Dassault carried out upgrades on Venezuelan Mirage IIIEVs and Mirage 5 aircraft to bring them up to Mirage 50 standards alongside some newly built units.

Mirage 5 ROSE

During the 1990s, the PAF launched a mid-life upgrade initiative called Project ROSE (Retrofit Of Strike Element) to modernize its fleet of Mirage III and Mirage 5 jets with cutting-edge avionics sourced from French, Italian, and Pakistani manufacturers. The PAF secured design blueprints from France and undertook redevelopment work at the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex.

The initial phase involved upgrading former Royal Australian Air Force Mirage III fighters under the designation ROSE I. Subsequently, Mirage 5Fs acquired from the French Air Force in the late 1990s underwent enhancements known as ROSE II, which included new cockpits equipped with multifunction displays, head-up displays, integrated navigation/attack systems, defensive countermeasures, encrypted communications radios, radar altimeters, and forward-looking infrared (FLIR) sensors. Under ROSE III, a further batch of fourteen Mirage 5Fs received additional system improvements focused on night attack capabilities using FLIR technology.

Belgium

During the 1991 Gulf War, a contingent of eighteen Belgian Mirage 5 aircraft was deployed to Turkey alongside German Alpha Jets and Italian F-104 Starfighters as part of a NATO mission tasked with defending Turkish airspace.

Pakistan

In response to an Indian airstrike on a terrorist camp in Balakot during February 2019, Pakistan executed retaliatory aerial strikes known as Operation Swift Retort, targeting military facilities within Indian-administered Kashmir. The operation involved two Dassault Mirage-5PA aircraft from No. 15 Squadron deploying precision-guided H-4 SOW glide bombs, with Weapon System Officers in Mirage-IIIDAs providing guidance through data links. The mission concluded successfully with all aircraft returning unharmed.

Egypt

Egypt's fleet included roughly 101 Mirage 5 aircraft, of which at least 82 underwent significant modernization efforts. These jets were primarily assigned to ground attack roles and received comprehensive upgrades over time. On 14 March 1986, one Mirage 5SDE was downed by Iranian F-14As, and another sustained damage from an F-4 Phantom on the same day. Plans to transfer older airframes to Pakistan never came to fruition.

Variants

Mirage 5: A single-seat ground-attack fighter without radar.
- Mirage 5AD: Export model for Abu Dhabi, UAE; total of 12 produced.
- Mirage 5EAD: Radar-equipped fighter-bomber variant for Abu Dhabi; 14 units manufactured.
- Mirage 5BA: Single-seat version for Belgium incorporating US avionics; 63 built (62 under license locally).
- Mirage 5COA: Export type for Colombia; 14 built and subsequently upgraded by IAI with canards and advanced avionics.
- Mirage 5D: Ground-attack export model for Libya; produced in quantity of 53.
- Mirage 5DE: Radar-fitted fighter-bomber for Libya; 32 built, with surviving aircraft retrofitted from 1975 with radar warning receivers.
- Mirage 5F: French Air Force single-seat ground-attack variant; converted from ex-Israeli Mirage 5Js numbering fifty. Eight were transformed into Mirage 50C for Chile before being replaced by eight newly built Mirage 5Fs.
- Mirage 5G and 5G2: Export variants for Gabon equipped with laser rangefinder capabilities; seven units total.
- Mirage 5J: Initially ordered by Israel but embargoed; these were delivered to France as Mirage 5F models.
- Mirage 5M: Export version for Zaire; fourteen constructed but only eleven delivered due to financial constraints.
- Mirage 5MA Elkan: Upgraded Mirage 5BA models sold to Chile.
- Mirage 5P: Export version tailored for Peru; twenty-two produced.
- Mirage 5P Mara: Upgraded versions transferred by Peru to Argentina, comprising ten aircraft.
- Mirage 5P3/P4: Advanced Peruvian variants featuring modern avionics, HUD, laser rangefinder, HOTAS controls, in-flight refueling probes, and compatibility with R.550 Magic missiles; included limited new builds and extensive upgrades.
- Mirage 5PA/PA2/PA3: Pakistani variants including radarless models and those equipped with Agave radar; approximately fifty-eight produced in total, some modernized with HUDs and inertial navigation systems; PA3 configured for anti-ship roles incorporating Exocet missile capability.
- Mirage 5SDE/E2: Egyptian radar-equipped and upgraded radarless attack versions; combined production around seventy units featuring navigation systems akin to those in the Alpha Jet MS2.
- Mirage 5V: Venezuelan single-seat ground-attack fighters; six built with some later refurbished to Mirage 50 standards.

Mirage 5R: Single-seat reconnaissance versions: produced for Belgium (27), Colombia (2), Libya (10), Abu Dhabi (3), and Egypt (6).

Mirage 5Dx: Two-seat trainer variants: manufactured for Belgium (16), Colombia (2), Abu Dhabi (3), Libya (15), Gabon (4), Zaire (3), Peru (4 plus upgrades), Pakistan (2), Venezuela (3), and Egypt (6). Some operators incorporated canards and advanced avionics during upgrades.

Mirage 50: Multi-role fighter-bomber powered by the Atar 9K-50 engine, available with or without radar:
- Mirage 50C and 50FC: Newly built or re-engined models for Chile numbering six and eight respectively.
- Mirage 50DC: Two-seat trainer variant produced for Chile; three units constructed.
- Mirage 50CN Pantera: Chilean modernization program by ENAER and IAI adding canards, a Kfir-style nose, and updated avionics; included upgrades of thirteen fighters plus two trainers.
- Mirage 50EV/DV: Venezuelan single-seat and two-seat versions featuring canards, in-flight refueling probes, Cyrano IVM3 radar, SAGEM inertial navigation systems, HUDs, Sherloc radar warning receivers, ALE-40 countermeasures, and Exocet missile integration; six new builds plus seven upgraded earlier aircraft. The two-seat DV model is also operated by Ecuador.

Current

Total: 92
- Combat Commanders' School, stationed at PAF Base Mushaf, operating Mirage 5PA aircraft
- No. 8 Squadron, based at PAF Base Masroor, flying Mirage 5PA2, 5PA3, and 5DPA2 models (service period: 1979–2022)
- 9 Squadron, located at PAF Base Rafiqui, equipped with Mirage 5PA (active from 1973 to 1984)
- 15 Squadron, operating out of PAF Base Rafiqui, using Mirage 5PA and 5DR variants before transitioning to the J-10C in 2022
- No.18 Squadron, stationed at PAF Base Masroor, flying Mirage 5PA2 (1981–1989)
- No. 22 Squadron, based at PAF Base Masroor, with Mirage 5PA and 5PA2 aircraft (1984–2004)
- 25 Squadron, operating from PAF Base Rafiqui, utilizing Mirage 5F ROSE II
- 27 Squadron, stationed at PAF Base Rafiqui, flying Mirage 5F ROSE III

Former

Total: 32
: Operated 10 Mirage 5P and 39 IAI Nesher units
: Fleet size of 106
: Acquired a total of 42 aircraft, including 25 Mirage 5M ELKAN and 17 Mirage 50 models
: Possessed a total of 18 units
: Maintained six Mirage 50 jets, later replaced by IAI Kfir fighters
: Operated approximately 101 Mirage 51 aircraft; notably, one was downed during the Iran–Iraq War by an Iranian F-14 Tomcat missile
: Had a fleet of about 50 aircraft
: Maintained eleven units
: Utilized around 61 IAI Nesher jets
: Deployed approximately 110 units between the years of 1971 and 2003
: Operated a total of forty aircraft
: Owned five IAI Nesher fighters, all subsequently upgraded to Atlas Cheetah
: Total inventory included forty-six units, encompassing both rebuilt and original Mirage 5 and Mirage 50 variants
: Maintained seventeen aircraft

Bibliography

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