Mirage IIIC 'Delta-wing Fighter' (French & Swiss AF)

The Mirage III jet fighter was developed by the French Avions Marcel Dassault company and its prototype flew in 1956. Regarded as a versatile second-generation fighter, it was the first Western European aircraft to exceed Mach 2 in level flight. The first major production model, the Mirage IIIC, took off in October 1960. A total of 95 were built for the French Air Force, with which it remained in service until 1988. A single aeroplane of this variant was also sold to Switzerland, while a total of 36 modified a/c, known as the Mirage IIIS, were constructed under licence by Federal Aircraft Works F+W.

The Mirage IIIC was a single-seat, all-metal monoplane featuring a tailless delta configuration. It was powered by a SNECMA Atar 09B turbojet and designed for all-weather interception, close air support, ground attacks and also fighter-bomber role.

It was armed with two DEFA cannons in the lower fuselage under the air intakes. Early Mirage IIIC's had three external stores pylons (one under the fuselage and one under each wing), but another two outboard pylons were later added to each wing. The outboard pylons were intended to carry Sidewinder missiles, while the centre pylon could carry Matra AAM.

Mirage IIICs were widely exported overseas and used in active combat roles in multiple conflicts. The prominent operators included Israel (IIICJ), South Africa (IIICZ) and Argentina using re-exported Israeli aircraft. A total of 184 Mirage IIIC were produced.