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One of the most successful aircraft of the Cold War era was the French Mirage III. The design began as a small light interceptor but soon grew into a powerful multi-role fighter. The first production models were the 'B' two-seat trainer which lacked a radar and the 'C' single seat interceptor/short range bomber. Despite the rather poor performance of the IIIC, the aircraft became very popular with air forces around the world. The most successful model by far was the IIIE with a larger fuselage and optimized as a long range fighter bomber. The Mirage III was such a successful concept that it has served as the basis for no less than six related designs--the Mirage IV nuclear bomber, the Mirage 5/50 attack fighters, the Mirage F.1 fighter, the Mirage 2000 fighter, Mirage 2000 bomber, the Israeli Kfir attack fighter, and the South African Cheetah attack fighter. All told, some 1,400 Mirage III, 5, and 50 aircraft were built.
HISTORY:
First Flight
(Mirage III-001) 17 November 1956
(Mirage IIIB) 21 October 1959
(Mirage IIIC) 1960
(Mirage IIIR) 31 October 1961
Service Entry
(Mirage IIIC) 1961
(Mirage IIIB) 19 July 1962
(Mirage IIIR) 1963
CREW: 1 pilot
ESTIMATED COST: unknown
AIRFOIL SECTIONS:
Wing Root unknown (3.5%)
Wing Tip unknown (3.5%)
DIMENSIONS:
Length 49.29 ft (15.03 m)
Wingspan 26.96 ft (8.22 m)
Height 14.75 ft (4.50 m)
Wing Area 375 ft2 (34.85 m2)
Canard Area not applicable
WEIGHTS:
Empty 15,540 lb (7,050 kg)
Typical Load 21,165 lb (9,600 kg)
Max Takeoff 30,205 lb (13,700 kg)
Fuel Capacity
internal: 880 gal (3,340 L)
external: unknown
Max Payload 8,820 lb (4,000 kg)
PROPULSION:
Powerplant one SNECMA Atar 9C afterburning turbojet
Thrust 13,670 lb (60.8 kN) with afterburner
PERFORMANCE:
Max Level Speed
at altitude: 1,460 mph (2,350 km/h) at 39,370 ft (12,000 m), Mach 2.2
at sea level: 863 mph (1,390 km/h), Mach 1.14
Initial Climb Rate 16,400 ft (5,000 m) / min
Service Ceiling 55,755 ft (17,000 m)
Range
typical: 1,294 nm (2,400 km)
ferry: 2,160 nm (4,000 km)
g-Limits unknown
ARMAMENT:
Gun two 30-mm DEFA 552A cannons (125 rds ea)
Stations five external hardpoints
Air-to-Air Missile AIM-9 Sidewinder, Matra R.530, Matra 550 Magic
Air-to-Surface Missile AS.30, AS.37, Wasp
Bomb 250/400 kg bombs
Other rocket pods, ECM pods
KNOWN VARIANTS:
Mirage IIIA Prototype single-seat fighter
Mirage IIIB Two-seat trainer
Mirage IIIBJ Two-seat trainer for Israel
Mirage IIIBL Two-seat trainer for Lebanon
Mirage IIIBS Two-seat trainer for Switzerland
Mirage IIIBZ Two-seat trainer for South Africa
Mirage IIIB2Mirage IIIB-RV Two-seat trainer fitted with a dummy refueling probe for in-flight refueling training
Mirage IIIC One-seat all-weather fighter bomber
Mirage IIICZ South African models of the IIIC equipped with the engine of the Mirage 5 and upgraded avionics
Mirage IIID Two-seat trainer for Mirage IIIE
Mirage IIIBE Version of Mirage IIID used by France
Mirage IIIDBR Version of Mirage IIID for Brazil
Mirage IIIDS Version of Mirage IIID for Switerland
Mirage IIIDZ South African models of the IIID equipped with the engine of the Mirage 5 and upgraded avionics
Mirage IIID2Z Version of Mirage IIID for South Africa with improved engine
Mirage IIIE/EA One-seat long-range fighter bomber with improved engine, new radar, and low-level attack capability; France has used the IIIE for carriage of tactical nuclear weapons
Mirage IIIEX IIIE model modified with nose from Mirage F.1, fixed canards, strakes of Mirage 5D, and in-flight refueling probe
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