Editing Dassault Mirage III (section)

==Variants==
; M.D.550 Mystère-Delta: Single-seat delta-wing interceptor-fighter prototype, fitted with a delta vertical tail surface, equipped with a retractable tricycle landing gear, powered by two {{convert|7.35|kN|lbf|abbr=on}} thrust M.D.30 ([[Armstrong Siddeley Viper]]) turbojet engines; one built.<ref name="WAPJ14 p120"/>
; Mirage I: Revised first prototype, fitted with a swept vertical tail surface, powered by two reheated M.D.30R turbojet engines, {{convert|9.61|kN|lbf|abbr=on}}, also fitted with a {{convert|15|kN|lbf|abbr=on}} thrust [[SEPR 66]] rocket booster.<ref name="WAPJ14 p120"/>
; Mirage II: Single-seat delta-wing interceptor-fighter prototype, larger version of the Mirage I, powered by two Turbomeca Gabizo turbojet engines; one abandoned incomplete.<ref name="WAPJ14 p120"/>
; Mirage III-001: Prototype, initially powered by a {{convert|44.12|kN|lbf|abbr=on}} thrust Atar 101G1 turbojet engine, later refitted with {{convert|43.15|kN|lbf|abbr=on}} Atar 101G-2 and also fitted with a [[SEPR 66]] auxiliary rocket motor; one built.<ref name="WAPJ14 p120"/>
; Mirage IIIA : Pre-production aircraft, with a lengthened, area ruled fuselage and powered by a {{convert|42.8|kN|lbf|abbr=on}} dry and {{convert|58.84|kN|lbf|abbr=on}} with reheat Atar 9B turbojet engine, also with provision for {{convert|13.34|kN|lbf|abbr=on}} [[SEPR 84]] auxiliary rocket motor. Fitted with [[Dassault Super Aida]] or [[Thomson-CSF Cyrano I bis]] radar. Ten built for the French Air Force.<ref name="WAPJ14 p121-2">Jackson ''World Air Power Journal'' Volume 14, pp. 121–122.</ref>
[[File:SAAF Mirage IIIBZ.jpg|thumb|A South African Air Force Mirage IIIBZ on display at the [[South African Air Force Museum]] on [[AFB Swartkop]]]]
; Mirage IIIB : Two-seat tandem trainer aircraft fitted with one piece canopy. Lacks radar, cannon armament and provision for booster rocket. Prototype (based on the IIIA) first flown on 20 October 1959. Followed by 26 production IIIBs based on IIIC for French Air Force and one for [[Centre d'essais en vol]] (CEV) test centre.<ref name="WAPJ14 p122">Jackson ''World Air Power Journal'' Volume 14, p. 122.</ref><ref name="WAPJ14 p124">Jackson ''World Air Power Journal'' Volume 14, p. 124.</ref>
* '''Mirage IIIB-1''' : Trials aircraft. Five built.<ref name="WAPJ14 p124"/>
* '''Mirage IIIB-2(RV)''' : Inflight refuelling training aircraft for Mirage IV force, fitted with dummy refuelling probe in nose. Ten built.<ref name="WAPJ14 p125">Jackson ''World Air Power Journal'' Volume 14, p. 125.</ref>
* '''Mirage IIIBE''' : Two-seat training aircraft based on Mirage IIIE for the French Air Force, similar to the Mirage IIID. 20 built.<ref name="WAPJ14 p125"/>
* '''Mirage IIIBJ''' : Mirage IIIB for [[Israeli Air Force]]. Five built.<ref name="WAPJ14 p124"/> Three later sold to Argentina and delivered between December 1982 and February 1983.<ref name="auto2">{{harvnb|Chenel|Liébert|Moreau|2014|page=249}}</ref>
* '''Mirage IIIBL''' : Mirage IIIBE for [[Lebanon Air Force]]; two built.<ref>{{harvnb|Chenel|Liébert|Moreau|2014|page=137}}</ref>
* '''Mirage IIIBS''' : Mirage IIIB for the [[Swiss Air Force]]; four built.<ref name="WAPJ14 p124"/>
* '''Mirage IIIBZ''' : Mirage IIIB for the [[South African Air Force]]; three built.<ref name="WAPJ14 p124"/>
; Mirage IIIC : Single-seat all-weather interceptor-fighter aircraft, with longer fuselage than the IIIA ({{convert|14.73|m|ftin|abbr=on}}) and equipped with a Cyrano I bis radar. The Mirage IIIC was armed with two {{convert|30|mm|abbr=on|3}} cannons, as well as a single [[R.511|Matra R.511]], Nord [[AA.20]] or [[Matra R530]] air-to-air missile under the fuselage and two AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles under the wings. It was powered by an Atar 9B-3 turbojet engine, which could be supplemented by fitting an auxiliary rocket motor in the rear fuselage if the cannons were removed. 95 were built for the French Air Force.<ref name="WAPJ14 p122-3">Jackson ''World Air Power Journal'' Volume 14, p. 122–123.</ref>
* '''Mirage IIICJ''' : Mirage IIIC for the Israeli Air Force, fitted with simpler electronics and with provision for the booster rocket removed.<ref name="WAPJ16 p108">Jackson ''World Air Power Journal'' Volume 16, p. 108.</ref> 72 delivered between 1962 and 1964.<ref name="WAPJ14 p123">Jackson ''World Air Power Journal'' Volume 14, p. 123.</ref> 19 later sold to Argentina and delivered between December 1982 and February 1983.<ref name="auto2"/>
* '''Mirage IIICS''' : Mirage IIIC supplied to Swiss Air Force in 1962 for evaluation and test purposes. One built.<ref name="WAPJ14 p123"/>
* '''Mirage IIICZ''' : Mirage IIIC for the South African Air Force. 16 supplied between December 1962 and March 1964.<ref name="WAPJ16 p113">Jackson ''World Air Power Journal'' Volume 16, p. 113.</ref>
* '''Mirage IIIC-2''' : Conversion of French Mirage IIIE with Atar 09K-6 engine. One aircraft converted, later re-converted to Mirage IIIE.<ref name="WAPJ14 p124"/>
;Mirage IIID : Two-seat trainer version of the Mirage IIIE, powered by {{convert|41.97|kN|lbf|abbr=on}} dry and {{convert|58.84|kN|lbf|abbr=on}} with reheat Atar 09-C engine. Fitted with distinctive strakes under the nose. Almost identical aircraft designated Mirage IIIBE, IIID and 5Dx depending on customer.<ref name="WAPJ14 p125-6">Jackson ''World Air Power Journal'' Volume 14, pp. 125–126.</ref>
[[File:Primer Mirage III en Argentina.jpg|thumb|The first Argentine Mirage, a IIIDA]]
* '''Mirage IIID''' : Two-seat training aircraft for the RAAF. Built under licence in Australia; 16 built.<ref name="WAPJ14 p126">Jackson ''World Air Power Journal'' Volume 14, p. 126.</ref>
* '''Mirage IIIDA''' : Two-seat trainer for the [[Argentine Air Force]]. Two supplied 1973 and a further two in 1982.<ref name="WAPJ14 p126"/><ref name="WAPJ16 p91">Jackson ''World Air Power Journal'' Volume 16, p. 91.</ref>
* '''Mirage IIIDBR''' : Two-seat trainer for the Brazilian Air Force, designated F-103D. Four newly built aircraft delivered from 1972. Two ex-French Air Force Mirage IIIBEs delivered 1984 to make up for losses in accidents.<ref name="MCA23 p49-0">Jackson 1985, pp. 49–50.</ref>
* '''Mirage IIIDBR-2''' : Refurbished and updated aircraft for the Brazilian Air Force, with more modern avionics and canard foreplanes. Two ex-French aircraft sold to Brazil in 1988, with remaining two DBRs upgraded to same standard.<ref name="WAPJ16 p96">Jackson ''World Air Power Journal'' Volume 16, p. 96.</ref>
* '''Mirage IIIDE''' : Two-seat trainer for Spanish Air Force. Seven built with local designation CE.11.<ref name="auto">{{harvnb|Chenel|Liébert|Moreau|2014|page=216}}</ref>
* '''Mirage IIIDP''' : Two-seat trainer for the Pakistan Air Force. Five built.<ref name="WAPJ16 p111">Jackson ''World Air Power Journal'' Volume 16, p. 111.</ref>
* '''Mirage IIIDS''' : Two-seat trainer for the Swiss Air Force. Two delivered in 1983.<ref name="MCA23 p56">Jackson 1985, p. 56.</ref>
* '''Mirage IIIDZ''' : Two-seat trainer for the South African Air Force; three delivered in 1969.<ref name="WAPJ16 p113"/>
* '''Mirage IIID2Z''' : Two-seat trainer for the South African Air Force; eleven delivered in 1973 and 1974, with an additional example delivered in knocked-down form in 1979 and assembled in South Africa.<ref>{{harvnb|Chenel|Liébert|Moreau|2014|pages=120,123}}</ref>
[[File:Argentina Air Force Dassault Mirage IIIEA Lofting-1.jpg|thumb|Mirage IIIEA of the [[Argentine Air Force]]]]
;Mirage IIIE: Single-seat tactical strike and fighter-bomber aircraft, with {{convert|300|mm|abbr=on}} fuselage plug to accommodate an additional avionics bay behind the cockpit. Fitted with Cyrano II radar with additional air-to-ground modes compared to Mirage IIIC, improved navigation equipment, including [[TACAN]] and a [[Doppler radar]] in undernose bulge. Powered by an Atar 09C-3 turbojet engine.<ref name="WAPJ14 p126-7">Jackson ''World Air Power Journal'' Volume 14, pp. 126–127.</ref> 183 built for the French Air Force.<ref name="WAPJ16 p98">Jackson ''World Air Power Journal'' Volume 16, p. 98.</ref>
* '''Mirage IIIEA''' : Mirage IIIE for the Argentine Air Force. 17 built.<ref name="WAPJ16 p91"/>
* '''Mirage IIIEBR''' : Mirage IIIE for the Brazilian Air Force; 16 built, locally designated F-103E.<ref name="WAPJ16 p96"/>
* '''Mirage IIIEBR-2''' : Refurbished and updated aircraft for the Brazilian Air Force, with canard foreplanes. Four ex-French aircraft sold to Brazil in 1988, with surviving Mirage IIIEBRs upgraded to same standard.<ref name="WAPJ16 p96"/>
* '''Mirage IIIEE''' : Mirage IIIE for the Spanish Air Force, locally designated C.11. 24 delivered from 1970.<ref name="mca24 p55-6">Jackson 1985, pp. 55–56.</ref>
* '''Mirage IIIEL''' : Mirage IIIE for the Lebanese Air Force, omitting doppler radar, including HF antenna. 10 delivered from 1967 to 1969.<ref name="WAPJ14 p127">Jackson ''World Air Power Journal'' Volume 14, p. 127.</ref><ref name="mca24 p53">Jackson 1985, p. 53.</ref>
* '''Mirage IIIEP''' : Mirage IIIE for the Pakistan Air Force. 18 delivered 1967–1969.<ref name="WAPJ16 p111"/>
* '''Mirage IIIEV''' : Mirage IIIE for the Venezuelan Air Force, omitting doppler radar. Seven built. Survivors upgraded to Mirage 50EV standard.<ref name="WAPJ16 p118">Jackson ''World Air Power Journal'' Volume 16, p. 116.</ref>
* '''Mirage IIIEZ''' : Mirage IIIE for the South African Air Force; 17 delivered 1965–1972.<ref name="WAPJ16 p113"/>
;Mirage IIIO: Single-seat all-weather fighter-bomber aircraft for the Royal Australian Air Force. Single prototype powered by {{convert|53.68|kN|lbf|abbr=on}} dry thrust and {{convert|71.17|kN|lbf|abbr=on}} [[Rolls-Royce Avon Mk.67]] turbojet engine, but order placed for aircraft based on Mirage IIIE, powered by Atar engine in March 1961. 100 aircraft built, of which 98 were built under licence in Australia. The first 49 were Mirage IIIO(F) interceptors which were followed by 51 Mirage IIIO(A) fighter-bombers, with survivors brought up to a common standard later.<ref name="WAPJ14 p132">Jackson ''World Air Power Journal'' Volume 14, p. 132.</ref>
[[File:Dassault Mirage IIIR.jpg|thumb|French Mirage IIIR]]
;Mirage IIIR: Single-seat all-weather reconnaissance aircraft, with radar replaced by camera nose carrying up to five cameras. Aircraft based on IIIE airframe but with simpler avionics similar to that fitted to the IIIC and retaining cannon armament of fighters. Two prototypes and 50 production aircraft built for the French Air Force.<ref name="WAPJ14 p132-3">Jackson ''World Air Power Journal'' Volume 14, pp. 132–133.</ref><ref name="MCA23 p25,7">Jackson 1985, pp. 25, 27.</ref>
* '''Mirage IIIRD''' : Single-seat all-weather reconnaissance aircraft for the French Air Force, equipped with improved avionics, including undernose doppler radar as in the Mirage IIIE. Provision to carry [[infrared linescan]], Doppler navigation radar or [[side looking airborne radar]] (SLAR) in interchangeable pod. 20 built.<ref name="WAPJ14 p132-3"/><ref name="MCA23 p25,7"/>
* '''Mirage IIIRJ''' : Single-seat all-weather reconnaissance aircraft of the Israeli Air Force. Two Mirage IIICJs converted into reconnaissance aircraft.{{Citation needed|date=December 2021}}
* '''Mirage IIIRP''' : Export version of the Mirage IIIR for the Pakistan Air Force; 3 built<ref>{{harvnb|Chenel|Liébert|Moreau|2014|page=146}}</ref>
* '''Mirage IIIRP2''' : Export version of the Mirage IIIR for the Pakistan Air Force, with provision to carry the infrared linescan pod; 10 built.<ref name="auto1"/>
* '''Mirage IIIRS''' : Export version of the Mirage IIIR for the Swiss Air Force; 18 built<ref>{{harvnb|Chenel|Liébert|Moreau|2014|page=84}}</ref>
* '''Mirage IIIRZ''' : Export version of the Mirage IIIR for the South African Air Force; four built.<ref>{{harvnb|Chenel|Liébert|Moreau|2014|page=120}}</ref>
* '''Mirage IIIR2Z''' : Export version of the Mirage IIIR for the South African Air Force, fitted with an Atar 9K-50 turbojet engine; four built.<ref>{{harvnb|Chenel|Liébert|Moreau|2014|pages=120–123}}</ref>

[[File:Mirage III MG 1487.jpg|thumb|upright|The belly of a Mirage IIIS]]
;Mirage IIIS: Single-seat all-weather interceptor fighter aircraft for the Swiss Air Force, based on the IIIE, but fitted with a Hughes TARAN 18 radar and fire-control system and armed with AIM-4 Falcon and Sidewinder air-to-air missiles. Built under licence in Switzerland; 36 built.<ref>{{harvnb|Chenel|Liébert|Moreau|2014|pages=84–88}}</ref>
;Mirage IIIT: One aircraft converted into an engine testbed, initially fitted with a subsonic {{convert|10500|-|13890|lbf|kN|order=flip|abbr=on}} [[Pratt & Whitney/SNECMA TF104]], but retrofitted with a supersonic {{convert|11680|-|16755|lbf|kN|order=flip|abbr=on}} [[Pratt & Whitney/SNECMA TF106]] turbofan engine.<ref>Brindley 1971, pp. 178–179.</ref>
;Mirage IIIEX: Proposed version, announced in 1982, fitted with updated avionics and fly-by-wire controls, powered by an Atar 9K-50 turbojet engine. Original designation of the Mirage IIING.

A total of 1,403 Mirage III/5/50 aircraft of all types were built by Dassault.<ref>{{harvnb|Chenel|Liébert|Moreau|2014|page=10}}</ref> There were a few unbuilt variants:
* A ''Mirage IIIK'' that was powered by a [[Rolls-Royce Spey]] turbofan was offered to the British [[Royal Air Force]].{{Citation needed|date=January 2013}}
* The ''Mirage IIIM'' was a carrier-based variant, with catapult spool and [[arresting hook]], for operation with the French ''[[Aéronavale]]''.{{Citation needed|date=January 2013}}
* The ''Mirage IIIW'' was a lightweight fighter version, proposed for a US competition, with Dassault partnered with [[Boeing]]. The aircraft would have been produced by Boeing, but it lost to the [[Northrop F-5]].<ref>{{harvnb|Chenel|Liébert|Moreau|2014|page=356}}</ref>

===Derivatives===

====Mirage 5/Mirage 50====
{{main|Dassault Mirage 5}}

The next major variant, the ''Mirage 5'', grew out of a request to Dassault from the [[Israeli Air Force]]. The first Mirage 5 flew on 19 May 1967. It looked much like the Mirage III, except it had a long slender nose that extended the aircraft's length by about half a meter. The Mirage 5 itself led directly to the Israeli [[IAI Nesher|''Nesher'']], either through a [[Mossad]] (Israeli intelligence) intelligence operation or through covert cooperation with AdA, depending upon which story is accepted. (See details in the ''Nesher'' article). In either case, the design gave rise to the [[IAI Kfir|''Kfir'']], which can be considered a direct descendant of the ''Mirage III''.

====Milan====
In 1968, Dassault, in cooperation with the Swiss, began work on a Mirage update known as the '''Milan''' ("[[Kite (bird)|Kite]]"). The main feature of the ''Milan'' was a pair of pop-out foreplanes in the nose, which were referred to as "''moustaches''". The moustaches were intended to provide better take-off performance and low-speed control for the attack role. The three initial prototypes were converted from existing Mirage fighters; one of these prototypes was nicknamed "[[Asterix]]", after the internationally popular French cartoon character, a tough little Gallic warrior with a huge moustache.<ref name = "prof 178">Brindley 1971, p. 178.</ref>

A fully equipped prototype rebuilt from a ''Mirage IIIR'' flew in May 1970, and was powered by the uprated {{convert|70.6|kN|lbf|abbr=on}} afterburning thrust [[SNECMA Atar 09K-50]] engine, following the evaluation of an earlier model of this new series on the one-off ''Mirage IIIC2''. The Milan also had updated avionics, including a laser designator and rangefinder in the nose. A second fully equipped prototype was produced for Swiss evaluation as the ''Milan S''. The canards did provide significant handling benefits, but they had drawbacks. They blocked the pilot's forward view to an extent, and set up turbulence in the engine intakes. The Milan concept was abandoned in 1972, while work continued on achieving the same goals with canards.{{Citation needed|date=January 2013}}

====Mirage IIING====
[[File:Dassault Mirage IIING, France - Air Force AN1242270.jpg|thumb|Mirage IIING]]

Following the development of the Mirage 50, Dassault had experimented with yet another derivative of the original Mirage series, named the ''Mirage IIING'' (''Nouvelle Génération'', new generation). Like the Milan and Mirage 50, the IIING was powered by the Atar 9K-50 engine. The prototype, a conversion of a Mirage IIIR, flew on 21 December 1982.<ref name="WAPJ15 p104">Jackson ''World Air Power Journal'' Volume 15, p. 104.</ref>

The Mirage IIING had a modified delta wing with leading-edge root extensions, plus a pair of fixed canards fitted above and behind the air intakes. The aircraft's avionics were completely modernized, making use of the parallel development effort underway for the next-generation [[Dassault Mirage 2000|Mirage 2000]] fighter. Chiefly amongst these changes, the Mirage IIING used a [[fly-by-wire]] system to allow control over the aircraft's [[relaxed stability]]. The aircraft had an improved nav/attack system with [[inertial navigation]] and a [[head-up display]]. A variety of radars could be fitted, including the Cyrano IV and Agave and these could be supplemented by a laser rangefinder. The uprated engine and aerodynamics improved take-off and sustained turn performance.<ref name="WAPJ15 p1045">Jackson ''World Air Power Journal'' Volume 15, pp. 104–105.</ref><ref name="jawa84p612">Taylor 1984, pp. 61–62.</ref>

Ultimately, the type never went into production, but to an extent the Mirage IIING was a demonstrator for various technologies that could be and were featured in upgrades to existing Mirage IIIs and Mirage 5s. After 1989, enhancements derived from the Mirage IIING were incorporated into Brazilian Mirage IIIEs, as well as into four ex-''Armée de l'Air'' Mirage IIIEs that were transferred to Brazil in 1988. In 1989, Dassault offered a similar upgrade refit of ex-AdA Mirage IIIEs under the designation ''Mirage IIIEX'', featuring canards, a fixed [[in-flight refueling]] probe, a longer nose, new avionics, and other refinements.{{Citation needed|date=January 2013}}

====Balzac / Mirage IIIV====
{{main|Dassault Mirage IIIV|Dassault Balzac V}}
One of the offshoots of the Mirage III/5/50 fighter family tree was the ''Mirage IIIV'' vertical take-off and landing ([[VTOL]]) fighter. ("IIIV" is read "three-vee," not "three-five").<ref name = "prof 179">Brindley 1971, pp. 179.</ref> This aircraft featured eight small vertical [[lift jet]]s straddling the main engine. The Mirage IIIV was built in response to a mid-1960s [[NATO]] specification for a VTOL strike fighter. It used eight RB.162-31 lift engines(generating 5,400&nbsp;lb thrust each), long-stroke landing gears, and additional covers to reduce impact of the lift engine exhausts. The main engine was a SNECMA TF-104 turbojet.<ref name="Mirage III fighter jet family, AirForceWorld.com">{{cite news |url=http://airforceworld.com/fighter/eng/mirage3.htm |access-date=26 August 2013 |title=Mirage III fighter jet family, AirForceWorld.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130919185000/http://www.airforceworld.com/fighter/eng/mirage3.htm |archive-date=19 September 2013 }}</ref>

====Mirage III ROSE====
{{main|Project ROSE}}

Project ROSE (Retrofit Of Strike Element) was an upgrade programme launched by the [[Pakistan Air Force]] to upgrade old Dassault Mirage III and [[Mirage 5]] aircraft with modern avionics. In the early 1990s, the PAF procured 50 ex-Australian Mirage III fighters, 33 of which were selected after an inspection to undergo upgrades. In the first phases of Project ROSE, the ex-Australian Mirage III fighters were fitted with new defensive systems and cockpits, which included new HUDs, MFDs, RWRs, HOTAS controls, radar altimeters and [[nav/attack system|navigation/attack systems]]. They were also fitted with the FIAR Grifo M3 multi-mode radar and designated ''ROSE I''. Around 34 [[Mirage 5]] attack fighters also underwent upgrades designated ''ROSE II'' and ''ROSE III'' before Project ROSE was completed.