Editing Dassault Mirage III (section)

==Exports and license production==

===Exports===
The largest export customers for Mirage IIICs built in France were [[Israel]], their principal variant being the ''Mirage IIICJ'', and [[South Africa]], the bulk of their fleet being the ''Mirage IIICZ''. Some export customers obtained the Mirage IIIB, with designations only changed to provide a country code, such as:  ''Mirage IIIDA'' for [[Argentina]], ''Mirage IIIDBR'' for [[Brazil]], ''Mirage IIIBJ'' for [[Israel]], ''Mirage IIIBL'' for [[Lebanon]], ''Mirage IIIDP'' for [[Pakistan]], ''Mirage IIIBZ'' and ''Mirage IIIDZ'' and ''Mirage IIID2Z'' for [[South Africa]], ''Mirage IIIDE'' for [[Spain]] and ''Mirage IIIDV'' for [[Venezuela]].<ref>Brindley 1971, pp. 179–190.</ref>

After Israeli success with the Mirage IIIC, scoring kills against [[Syria]]n [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17]]s and [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21|MiG-21]] aircraft and then achieving a formidable victory against [[Egypt]], [[Jordan]], and [[Syria]] in the [[Six-Day War]] of June 1967, the Mirage III's earned a combat-proven service history.  This and low cost made it a popular export success.{{Citation needed|date=January 2013}} According to Brindley, a key element of the Mirage III's export success was the extensive support given to Dassault by the French government; he has claimed that the state would often commence negotiations without involving or informing Dassault at all until a later stage.<ref>Brindley 1971, pp. 179–180.</ref>

A good number of Mirage IIIEs were built for export as well, being purchased in small numbers by [[Argentina]] as the ''Mirage IIIEA'', [[Brazil]] as the ''Mirage IIIEBR'', [[Lebanon]] as the ''Mirage IIIEL'', [[Pakistan]] as the ''Mirage IIIEP'', [[South Africa]] as the ''Mirage IIIEZ'', [[Spain]] as the ''Mirage IIIEE'', and [[Venezuela]] as the ''Mirage IIIEV'', with a list of subvariant designations, with minor variations in equipment fit. Dassault believed the customer was always right, and was happy to accommodate changes in equipment fit as customer needs and budget required.{{Citation needed|date=January 2013}}

Some customers obtained the two-seat Mirage IIIBE under the general designation ''Mirage IIID'', though the trainers were generally similar to the Mirage IIIBE except for minor changes in equipment fit. In some cases they were identical, since two surplus AdA Mirage IIIBEs were sold to Brazil under the designation ''Mirage IIIBBR'', and three were similarly sold to Egypt under the designation ''Mirage 5SDD''. New-build exports of this type included aircraft sold to [[Abu Dhabi]], Argentina, Brazil, [[Chile]], [[Colombia]], [[Egypt]], [[Gabon]], [[Libya]], [[Pakistan]], [[Peru]], Spain, Venezuela, and [[Zaire]].<ref name="WAPJ14 p126"/>

During the 1960s, the [[Soviet Union]] was alleged to have been engaged in attempts at conducting [[industrial espionage]] that targeted Dassault and specifically the Mirage III. In one widely reported incident, a pilot of the [[Lebanese Air Force]] was approached by Soviet agents, who offered him a [[bribe]] to fly one of the nation's 14 Mirage IIIs directly to Soviet territory; Lebanese counter-intelligence was notified of the attempt by the pilot.<ref>Brindley 1971, pp. 186–187.</ref> Diplomatically, France was protective of the fighter, often forbidding nations from re-exporting their Mirage IIIs to third parties without their consent under the threat of a prospective embargo.<ref name = "prof 187">Brindley 1971, p. 187.</ref>

Export versions of the Mirage IIIR were built for [[Pakistan]] as the ''Mirage IIIRP'' and ''Mirage IIIRP2'',<ref>{{harvnb|Chenel|Liébert|Moreau|2014|pages=147–149}}</ref> and South Africa as the ''Mirage IIIRZ'' and ''Mirage IIIR2Z'' with an Atar 9K-50 jet engine.<ref>Brindley 1971, pp. 187, 189.</ref> Export versions of the IIIR recce aircraft were purchased by Abu Dhabi, Belgium, Colombia, Egypt, Libya, [[Pakistan]], and South Africa. Some export Mirage IIIRDs were fitted with British [[Vinten]] cameras, not OMERA cameras. Most of the Belgian aircraft were built locally.<ref name="WAPJ14 p133"/>

====Israel====
[[File:Hatzerim Mirage 20100129 1.jpg|thumb|Mirage IIICJ at the [[Israeli Air Force Museum]] (13 victory markings)]]

The [[Israeli Air Force]] (IAF) purchased three variants of the Mirage III:<ref name=AR>{{cite web|url=http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_274.shtml |title=Dassault Mirage III & Mirage 5/Nesher in Israeli Service |publisher=ACIG |year=2003 |access-date=9 July 2013 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140726102431/http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_274.shtml |archive-date=26 July 2014 }}</ref><ref name="prof 183">Brindley 1971, p. 183.</ref>
* 70 Mirage IIICJ single-seat fighters, received between April 1962 and July 1964.
* Two Mirage IIIRJ single-seat photo-reconnaissance aircraft, received in March 1964.
* Four Mirage IIIBJ two-seat combat trainers, three received in 1966 and one in 1968.

Initial Israeli operations were conducted in a close cooperative relationship with both Dassault and France itself, the former sharing large amounts of operational data and experience with the other parties.<ref name="prof 183" /> However, Israel was forced into updating its own Mirages when France imposed an [[arms embargo]] on the region after the 1967 [[Six-Day War]]. For many years, official military relations did not exist between France and Israel, however, spare components remained available.<ref name="prof 183" /> The result of these troubles was the development of [[Israel Aircraft Industries]]' [[IAI Nesher|Nesher]] fighter, which was based on the Mirage 5. Nevertheless, Mirage IIIB upgrades up to and including a full [[IAI Kfir|Kfir]]-type conversion have also been made available to third parties by IAI.<ref name=AR /><ref>Brindley 1971, pp. 183, 186.</ref>

====South Africa====

South Africa was amongst the earliest export customers for the Mirage III, having initially ordered a batch of 15 Mirage IIIC for low-level ground attack operations, for which they were armed with the [[Nord Aviation]] [[AS-20]], along with three Mirage IIIBZ two-seater trainers.<ref name = "prof 189"/> Further aircraft were ordered, including a batch of 16 Mirage IIIEs, three Mirage IIID two-seaters and four Mirage IIIR photo-reconnaissance aircraft. During the early 1970s, South Africa reportedly held negotiations with Dassault with the aim of securing a licence to produce either the Mirage III, the Mirage 5 and the Mirage F1.<ref name = "prof 189">Brindley 1971, p. 189.</ref>

However, much like Israel, South Africa was similarly isolated by a French arms embargo after the passage of [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 418]] in November 1977.<ref name="War">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zEQ-Km_KShAC&q=Coventry+Four&pg=PA238|title=War and Society: The Militarisation of South Africa|author=Jacklyn Cock, Laurie Nathan|year=1989|publisher=New Africa Books|isbn=978-0-86486-115-3|access-date=6 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114010110/http://books.google.com/books?id=zEQ-Km_KShAC&pg=PA238&dq=Coventry+Four&sig=f48spXJo8chofA0jdDIacKxXLig#PPA238,M1|archive-date=14 November 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[South African Air Force]] launched an ambitious rebuild programme for its Mirage III fleet, soliciting Israeli technical assistance to convert existing airframes into the [[Atlas Cheetah]]. Fixed foreplanes distinguish the Cheetah from its Mirage predecessor, and an extended nose, probably inspired by the IAI Kfir, houses a modified electronics suite, including radar.<ref name="IMI">{{cite book|last=Polakow-Suransky|first=Sasha|title=The Unspoken Alliance: Israel's Secret Relationship with Apartheid South Africa |pages=1–336}}</ref> Built in single-seat, two-seat interceptor, and two-seat combat trainer versions, the Atlas Cheetah entered service in 1987 during the [[South African Border War]]. Armament consists of [[Denel]] [[V3 Kukri (missile)|Kukri]] or [[A-Darter|Darter]] heat-seeking air-to-air missiles, the targeting of which was aided by a pilot's helmet mounted sight.{{Citation needed|date=January 2018}}

====Pakistan====
[[File:PAF Dassault Mirage reconnaissance variant with F-16C Block 52+.jpg|thumb|A Pakistani Mirage-IIIE reconnaissance variant with a Pakistani F-16C in the background in 2011]]
In 1967, Pakistan opted to purchase an initial batch of 18 Mirage IIIEPs, 3 Mirage IIIDPs and 3 Mirage IIIRPs from France.<ref name="armstrade.sipri.org">{{cite web |url=http://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/trade_register.php |title=Trade Registers |access-date=6 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100414022558/http://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/trade_register.php |archive-date=14 April 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://airforcesmonthly.keypublishing.com/2017/05/22/half-a-century-of-service-for-pakistans-mirage/ |title=Half a century of service for Pakistan's Mirage &#124; Air Forces Monthly |access-date=20 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418140814/https://airforcesmonthly.keypublishing.com/2017/05/22/half-a-century-of-service-for-pakistans-mirage/ |archive-date=18 April 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Over the course of time, the [[Pakistan Air Force]] (PAF) inducted large numbers of new and secondhand Mirages IIIs and [[Mirage 5]]s spanning multiple variants. In 1977 and 1978, an additional 10 new Mirage IIIRP2s were delivered.<ref name="auto1">{{harvnb|Chenel|Liébert|Moreau|2014|page=149}}</ref>

Perhaps the most notable PAF unit equipped with the type has been [[No. 5 Squadron (Pakistan Air Force)|No. 5 Squadron]], which was fully operational by the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]]. During the conflict, while flying out from bases in [[Sargodha]] and [[Mianwali]], the Mirage III was used to conduct ground attacks against Indian military units and targets of interest. The PAF denied that any Mirage was lost. It was also confirmed by France that no fighter jet was missing from the total of 23 (a single aircraft had already been lost before the war).<ref>{{harvnb|Chenel|Liébert|Moreau|2014|page=155}}</ref>

In 1991, because French production of the Mirage III and most spare parts had ceased, Pakistan acquired 50 Australian-built Mirages, which had been retired by the [[Royal Australian Air Force]] in 1988: 42 examples of the Mirage IIIO and eight twin-seat IIID.<ref name="adf-serials.com.au">{{cite web |url=http://www.adf-serials.com.au/3a3-Pakistan.htm |title=ADF-Serials 2018 ''ex-RAAF Mirages in Pakistan Air Force Service'' (16 November 2018). |access-date=16 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116173929/http://www.adf-serials.com.au/3a3-Pakistan.htm |archive-date=16 November 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> A further five incomplete aircraft were also obtained from the RAAF for [[Cannibalization (parts)|cannibalized spare parts]].<ref name=trade>{{cite web |url=http://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/trade_register.php |title=Trade Registers |publisher=Armstrade.sipri.org |access-date=3 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100414022558/http://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/trade_register.php |archive-date=14 April 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> Eight of the ex-RAAF Mirages entered service with the PAF immediately, while another 33 were upgraded under a PAF project known as [[Project ROSE#Mirage IIIO ROSE I|ROSE I]] ("Retrofit of Strike Element"), with new equipment including: [[head-up display]] (HUD), [[HOTAS]] controls, [[multi-function display]] (MFD), [[radar altimeter]], [[nav/attack system]] (manufactured by [[SAGEM]]), [[inertial navigation]] and [[GPS]] systems, [[radar warning receiver]] (RWR), an [[electronic countermeasures]] (ECM) suite, [[Flare (countermeasure)|decoy flares]] and [[Chaff (radar countermeasure)|chaff]] dispenser. In 1999, multi-mode [[FIAR|FIAR Grifo M3]] radar was installed in the PAF Mirages.<ref name="flightglobal.com 24/02/99">Paul Lewis, "Building a base: Pakistan builds on the capabilities of local support for combat aircraft", ''[[Flight International]]'', published: 24 February 1999, URL: http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/1999/02/24/48539/building-a-base.html Retrieved: 25 September 2009</ref>

Ten [[Lebanese Air Force]] aircraft were purchased in 2000<ref name="armstrade.sipri.org"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lebarmy.gov.lb/English/AirforceMain.asp |title=Lebanese Army Website |access-date=26 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071231061444/http://www.lebarmy.gov.lb/English/AirforceMain.asp |archive-date=31 December 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and in 2003 15 Mirage IIIEEs and 5 Mirage IIIDEs were obtained from the [[Spanish Air Force]] for [[cannibalization (parts)|cannibalized spare parts]].<ref>{{harvnb|Chenel|Liébert|Moreau|2014|page=154}}</ref>

From 2011, the PAF Mirage fleet was modified to carry [[Hatf-VIII (Ra'ad)]] cruise missiles and to accommodate [[aerial refueling]] probes of South African origin (presumably similar to those installed on the [[Atlas Cheetah]]). Subsequently, these aircraft have been modified to accept additional equipment and munitions, such as Chinese [[PL-12]] air-to-air missiles.<ref name=trade/>

In 2019, the PAF was reported to be in negotiation with [[Egypt]] for purchase of 30 Mirages.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.defenseworld.net/news/24626/Pakistan_To_Get_Egyptian_Mirage_5_Jets__Report|title = Pakistan to Get Egyptian Mirage 5 Jets: Report}}</ref>

===License production===
Variants of the Mirage IIIE were built under license in both Australia (as the IIIO) by [[Government Aircraft Factories|GAF]], and Switzerland (as the IIIS) by [[RUAG|F+W Emmen]].

====Australia====
{{main|Dassault Mirage III Australian procurement}}
[[File:Two Mirage III of the Royal Australian Air Force 1.JPEG|thumb|Australian Mirage IIIO (top) and Mirage IIID (bottom) in 1980. These aircraft are now operated by the Pakistan Air Force.]]
[[File:RAAF Mirage.jpg|thumb|An Australian Mirage IIID in 1988]]

Australia first showed an official interest in replacing its [[CAC Sabre]] with the Mirage III in 1960, and initially considered a variant powered by a licence-built variant of the [[Rolls-Royce Avon]] turbojet (used by the CAC Sabre).<ref name = "prof 180"/> While an experimental Avon-powered Mirage III was built as a prototype and flown in trials, it did not result in use of the Avon by a production variant.<ref>{{harvnb|Chenel|Liébert|Moreau|2014|page=67}}</ref>

The Australian government decided that the [[Royal Australian Air Force]] (RAAF) would receive a variant based on the Mirage IIIE and powered by the SNECMA Atar engine, built under license by [[Government Aircraft Factories]] (GAF) at [[Port Melbourne, Victoria#Fishermans Bend|Fishermans Bend]], [[Melbourne]].<ref name = "prof 180"/>  Known as the ''Mirage IIIO'' or '''GAF Mirage''', the Australian variant differed from the Mirage IIIE mainly in its avionics. The other major Australian aircraft manufacturer at the time, the [[Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation]] (CAC), also based in Melbourne, was also involved in the project, producing the Atar engine under licence.<ref name = "prof 180">Brindley 1971, p. 180.</ref>

Initially, Dassault provided a pair of pattern aircraft, the first of these flying in March 1963, which were transported to Australia and used to aid technicians at GAF in establishing their own assembly line for the type.<ref name = "prof 180"/> GAF produced three variants: the ''Mirage IIIO(F)'', which was an interceptor, the Mirage ''IIIO(A)'', a surface attack aircraft and the twin seat ''Mirage IIIO(D)'', a [[lead-in fighter trainer]]. GAF completed 48 Mirage IIIO(F), 50 Mirage IIIO(A) and 16 Mirage IIIO(D) aircraft.<ref name = "prof 180"/>

Between 1967 and 1979, all the surviving Mirage IIIO(F) aircraft were converted to the Mirage IIIO(A) standard, which reconfigured them from the interceptor role to perform ground attack and aerial reconnaissance missions instead.<ref name = "prof 180"/> In 1988, the Mirage III was finally withdrawn from RAAF service; 50 of the surviving fighters were exported to Pakistan in 1990.<ref name="adf-serials.com.au"/> Several examples are preserved in museums around Australia; at least one of these is reportedly under restoration to a taxiable condition.{{citation needed|date=May 2014}}

====Switzerland====
[[File:Mirage III-R MG 1444.jpg|thumb|Swiss Dassault Mirage IIIRS on display]]
[[File:Jato3.jpg|thumb|Swiss Air Force Mirage IIIS JATO (jet-assisted take-off)]]

In 1961, [[Switzerland]] purchased a single Mirage IIIC from France for use as a development aircraft to support the nation's intentions to domestically produce 100 Mirage III fighters for the [[Swiss Air Force]].<ref name = "prof 189 190"/> Accordingly, Mirages were manufactured in Switzerland by F+W Emmen (today [[RUAG]], the federal government aircraft factory in [[Emmen, Switzerland|Emmen]]) under the Mirage IIIS designation. The Mirage IIIS was intended to perform the attack, interception, and reconnaissance missions in a single model.<ref name = "prof 189"/> However, the venture suffered considerable cost overruns, mainly due to Swiss-mandated customisations and features, this was compounded by a lack of financial oversight, controversy over the manufacturing cost ultimately cumulated in the so-called [[History of the Swiss Air Force#Mirage affair|"Mirage affair"]] and the resignation of several officials.<ref>François Modoux, « Du Mirage au Gripen : l'épreuve du carcan financier », {{Lang|fr|[[Le Temps]]}}, Thursday 15 May 2014, p. 9.</ref> It became clear that a single model was not capable of the performance desires; thus only 36 Mirage IIIS interceptors and 18 Mirage IIIRS reconnaissance aircraft were eventually produced by F+W Emmen.<ref name = "prof 189 190">Brindley 1971, pp. 189–190.</ref>

The Mirage IIIS was with considerably strengthened wings, airframe, and [[Landing gear|undercarriage]] as the Swiss Air Force had required robustness comparable to that of carrier-based planes.<ref name = "prof 189"/> The reinforced airframes enabled aircraft to be moved by lifting them with a crane (hence the airframes also being fitted with four lifting points, retractable nosecones and lengthened nosewheel legs), as the [[aircraft cavern]]s in the mountains that Swiss Air Force uses as bunkers offer very little space to maneuver parked aircraft. Another benefit of the strengthened frames was the enabling of [[JATO]]-assisted takeoffs, giving the type a [[STOL|short takeoff and landing]] (STOL) capability.<ref name = "prof 189"/>

Other major differences were present on the Swiss-built interceptors. It was furnished with new American-sourced avionics along with a different cockpit design, including a [[Hughes Aircraft Company]]-built TARAN-18 radar system and could armed with the [[AIM-4 Falcon]] air-to-air missile (Swiss designation of the [[Saab AB|SAAB]] Licence built Robot 27 (Rb27), which is similar to the Hughes AIM-26 "Falcon").<ref name = "prof 189"/> In addition, the Mirage IIIS had the wiring to carry a Swiss-built or French-built nuclear bomb. In the event, the programme to produce a [[Switzerland and weapons of mass destruction|Swiss nuclear bomb]] was stopped in the pre-production stage and Switzerland chose not to purchase such weapons from France either.{{Citation needed |date=January 2013}} The Mirage IIIRS could also carry a centerline pod for conducting [[aerial reconnaissance|photo reconnaissance]] missions, as well as an integral fuel tank underneath the aft belly; this tank could carry a smaller fuel load, but also allowed for a rear-facing film camera to also be added. When fitted with the reconnaissance pod, supersonic performance was severely diminished.<ref name = "prof 189"/> The Mirage IIIS could be optionally fitted with a SEPR (Société d'Etudes pour la Propulsion par Réaction) [[SEPR 84|844]] rocket engine.<ref>{{harvnb|Chenel|Liébert|Moreau|2014|page=86}}</ref>

[[File:SEPR Antrieb für Mirage.JPG|thumb|[[SEPR rocket engine|SEPR]] at the [[Flieger-Flab-Museum]] ]]

In 1967, the Mirage IIIS entered operational service with the Swiss Air Force; the Mirage IIIRS followed two years later.<ref name = "prof 190">Brindley 1971, p. 190.</ref> During their service life, Swiss Mirages received several upgrades, including the installation of a [[Martin-Baker]] Mk 6 ejection seat, a radar warning receiver, and a TRACOR AN/ALE-40 chaff/flare dispenser positioned at the back under the rear of the fuselage.<ref>{{harvnb|Chenel|Liébert|Moreau|2014|page=91}}</ref> Starting in 1988, canards and strakes designed by [[Flug- und Fahrzeugwerke Altenrhein|FFA]] and [[:de:Eidgenössisches Flugzeugwerk|F+W]] in cooperation with Dassault, and produced in Switzerland, were fitted to the type.<ref>{{harvnb|Chenel|Liébert|Moreau|2014|pages=91-93}}</ref> In 1999, Switzerland phased out the last of its Mirage IIIS fleet; the remaining Mirage IIIRS, BS and DS variants were taken out of service in 2003.<ref name="SAF-Aircraft">[http://www.lw.admin.ch/internet/luftwaffe/en/home/dokumentation/assets/aircraft/historical.html "Historical aircraft."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728131122/http://www.lw.admin.ch/internet/luftwaffe/en/home/dokumentation/assets/aircraft/historical.html |date=28 July 2011 }} ''Swiss Air Force.'' Retrieved 9 April 2010.</ref>