Atlas Cheetah

Atlas Cheetah
Atlas Cheetah C of the South African Air Force
Type:	Multipurpose fighter
Design country:	South Africa
Manufacturer:	Atlas Aviation
First flight:	July 1986
Commissioning:	1986
Number of pieces:	70

Atlas Cheetah is a South African fighter aircraft that is primarily used as a fighter (model C) and for pilot training ( two-seater , model D).

development

At the beginning of the 1980s, the need arose in South Africa to modernize the air force . In addition to the high maintenance costs of the existing Dassault Mirage III (EZ / CZ / BZ / DZ / D2Z / RZ / R2Z) and Mirage F1 (AZ / CZ) fighter aircraft, the delivery of Soviet MiG-23 fighter aircraft to Angola is also likely played a role. The existing embargo of the United Nations made the acquisition of new aircraft impossible. The only option therefore remained to modernize the existing machines.

At that time, the Mirage F1 machines were the most modern combat aircraft in the South African armed forces and formed the backbone of the Air Force. Taking it temporarily out of active service for modernization would have severely restricted the capabilities of the Air Force and was therefore not feasible. Since other countries had already developed modernized versions of the Mirage III, in particular Israel ( Kfir ) and France (Mirage III NG), the choice fell on the existing Mirage III. The "Cushion" project was born.

In July 1986 the South African company Atlas Aviation presented a significantly modified Mirage III with the new name "Cheetah". Three versions of the machine were built: the two-seat Cheetah D and the two single-seat versions Cheetah E and Cheetah C. While the Cheetah E was retired in 1992 , the South African Air Force (SAAF) continued to use the 'C' and 'D' types until April 11, 2008 a.

It is believed that Israel Aircraft Industries was involved in the project, at least in the early stages, and that some components are from Israel. However, this information is neither confirmed nor denied by the SAAF. However, the similarity with the Kfir in some details (e.g. the canards ) indicates this.

Of the then existing 27 Mirage III DZ and D2Z, 16 were converted to Cheetah D and 16 of the Mirage III EZ were converted to Cheetah E. No South African machines were used for the Cheetah C. Allegedly, the aircraft cells required for this are said to have been delivered by Israel (discarded Kfir cells).

A total of about 60 aircraft were built. The entire program cost about 3.5 billion rand.

Use and engagement

A South African Cheetah flies over the US destroyer USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98)

The Cheetah is primarily used as an interceptor , but can also be armed with bombs and missiles and thus used as a multipurpose fighter.

The first aircraft to be modernized was a Mirage III D2Z with the serial number 845. It was delivered to Atlas in April 1983. The delivery date of this aircraft is unknown. The first flight took place in May 1985 at Israel Aircraft Industries. The first Cheetah D was unveiled to the public on July 16, 1986 in the presence of President Botha . At this time, some Cheetah D had already been delivered to the 89 Combat Flying School stationed at the Pietersburg Air Force Base , although this type was not officially operational until 1987. The second and third Mirage to be modernized were both of the Mirage III EZ type and were delivered to the 5th Squadron stationed at the Louis Trichardt Air Force Base .

Production of the Cheetah C began in 1991, and the first machine of this type was delivered in 1993. A total of 38 Cheetah Cs were produced, all of which were delivered to the 2nd Squadron based at the Louis Trichardt Air Force Base. With the commissioning of the Cheetah C, the Cheetah E were retired and five squadrons were disbanded in 1992. Soon afterwards, the 89 Combat Flying School was also disbanded and all Cheetah D were assigned to Season 2, where they served until 2009.

In 2011, Ecuador bought 12 warplanes (10 Cheetah C and 2 D) from South Africa for 54 million euros, which were overhauled by the defense company Denel . They are supposed to replace the Mirage F1 there.

Versions

Cheetah B

Five superfluous Nesher converted into two-seaters were designated as Cheetah B.

Cheetah C

The Cheetah C is the youngest model in the Cheetah series. It had its maiden flight on November 22, 1992 with Des Barker in the cockpit. In contrast to the D and E variants, the Cheetah C is equipped with a powerful Elta radar (presumably EL / M-2035) and an extensive electronic self-protection system. Around 35 had been built by 1995.

Cheetah D

In contrast to all other models in the Cheetah series, the Cheetah D is a two-seat aircraft. The machines are mainly used to train pilots who are to fly Cheetah C machines.

Under the project name "Recipient", 10 of the 13 existing Cheetah D's were converted. Instead of the previous Atar 09C engine , the machines received an Atar 09k50C-11 engine. The three machines that had not been converted were taken out of service.

Cheetah D number 845 is currently in use as a test aircraft by the Test Flight and Development Center (TFDC). It was recently used in the development of the Denel Dynamics MUPSOW weapon system. Denel also uses two Cheetah Ds for test purposes: number 844 and 847. Number 847 was used in the context of evaluating the SMR-95 engine (a further development of the Klimow RD-33). Although the new Russian engine showed a significant increase in performance, budget cuts and problems with the machine's center of gravity led to the project being discontinued.

Cheetah E.

Atlas Cheetah E.

The single-seater Cheetah E is mostly viewed as a temporary solution for the period until the Cheetah C is ready for use due to the short period of use from 1987/88 until it was retired in 1992.

The machine was equipped with relatively simple avionics . In contrast to the other models, this type kept the Atar 9C-3 engine. With the exception of the last Cheetah E, number 842, all aircraft of this type were put into storage. Number 842 was painted in a special camouflage scheme and used for system tests. Cheetah E number 842 is currently owned by the Air Force Museum and is located at Swartkop Air Force Base.

In 2003 Chile acquired five of the stored Cheetah E with the numbers 819, 820, 827, 832 and 833. Chile is also interested in acquiring further (number 822, 823, 825, 828, 829, 831 and 834) aircraft of this type, as long as both sides can agree on the price. The Chilean Air Force (FAC) intends to use the Cheetahs as a spare parts store for their similar ENAER Pantera aircraft.

Cheetah R

The Cheetah R was a feasibility study. It should be examined whether a special reconnaissance model should be included in the modernization program. A Mirage III R2Z (number 855) equipped with an Atar 9K50 engine was used as the basis.

In addition to repairing the airframe, the Cheetah R received a new nose and the same radar that was used on the Type E. The two DEFA 30 mm cannons were removed and the Cheetah E was the only model in the Cheetah series to have no air refueling facility .

After the South African Air Force decided not to pursue the Cheetah-R program, number 855 was equipped with the Advanced Combat Wing (ACW) and used as a test and development machine. Number 855 was later scrapped and its wings stored in the Air Force Museum.

Technical specifications

Type	one or two-seat fighter aircraft
Engine	a jet engine SNECMA Atar 9c with 41.97 kN dry and 60.80 kN afterburner thrust or a SNECMA Atar 9k-50 with 49.03 kN dry and 70.82 kN afterburner thrust
Top speed	2,338 km / h at an altitude of 12,000 m
Range	1,200 km
Summit height	17,000 m
Weight	empty approx. 7,400 kg, loaded maximum approx. 16,500 kg
Dimensions	Span 8.22 m, length 15.62 m, height 4.55 m, wing area 34.80 m²

Armament

permanently installed on-board cannons

• 2 × 30 mm revolver automatic cannon GIAT DEFA with 135 rounds of ammunition each

at six lower wing stations and one lower trunk station for a maximum of 4,000 kg of ordnance

Air-to-air armament

• 2 × Denel V3B "Kukri"
• 2 × Denel V3C "Darter"
• 2 × Denel V3C "U-Darter"
• 2 × Denel V4 "R-Darter"
• 2 × Denel V3S "Snake" (license production by Rafael "Python 3")

Air-to-ground armament

• 12 × 12.5 kg exercise bombs
• 8 × 113 kg free-fall bomb "Mark 81"
• 4 × 120 kg fragmentation bombs
• 4 × 145 kg free-fall bombs, Reutech Defense Industries
• 4 × 241 kg free fall bombs " Mark 82 "
• 4 × 250 kg free-fall bombs, Armscor
• 2 × 447 kg free fall bombs "Mark 83"
• 2 × 500 kg free-fall bombs, Armscor
• 4 × CB-470 cluster bomb
• 2 × laser-guided bombs "745", 250 kg
• 2 × glide bombs Raptor 1 (also known as "H-2", Cheetah D only)

Additional container

• 3 × 1,700 liter additional tank (bulging under wing tank / lower fuselage tank for kerosene )
• 2 × 1,300 liter additional tanks (slim underwing tank for kerosene, can be equipped with two Mk.81 free-fall bombs)
• 1 × Vinten Vicon 18 series 600 reconnaissance container
• 1 × "Taxane" destination tow bag container

Footnotes and sources

1. ↑ Cheetah beats sanctions. at www.flightglobal.com In: Flight International , July 26, 1986, p. 12.
2. ↑ ^{a b} Type description on the side of the South African Air Force
3. ↑ FlugRevue July 2008, pp. 58–59, Schneller Jäger
4. ↑ FliegerRevue June 2011, p. 8, Cheetah for Ecuador
5. ↑ ex-SAAF Cheetahs arriving in Ecuador , defenceweb.co.za 20 April, 2011

Web links

Commons : Cheetah of SAAF  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

• Globalsecurity.org via the Cheetah
• History of the SAAF, official website of the SAAF
• History of the Cheetah on AirForceWorld with very good pictures