Dassault Mirage F1

Dassault Mirage F1
Mirage F-1E of the Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana
Type:	Air superiority fighter / fighter-bomber
Design country:	France
Manufacturer:	Dassault Aviation
First flight:	1973
Commissioning:	March 1973
Production time:	1973 to 1989
Number of pieces:	730

The Mirage F1 is a light fighter or multi-role fighter aircraft produced by the French aircraft manufacturer Dassault Aviation .

history

The Mirage F1 was developed by Dassault on its own initiative based on the Mirage III as a smaller, lighter and single-seat alternative to the Dassault Mirage F2 , which was required by France in 1964 . The machine completed its maiden flight on December 23, 1966; this prototype crashed in May 1967, after which flight testing was not continued until March 1969. The first series copies were delivered to the French Air Force in March 1973, whereas the Mirage F2, which took off for its maiden flight six months before the F1, stayed with the prototype.

The machines were later exported to Jordan , Greece , Kuwait , Spain , Morocco and other countries. As a first export success from 1975 32 Mirage F1AZ and 16 F1CZ were exported to South Africa and used there until November 1997. Most of the machines (110) were bought from Iraq.

A total of 730 machines were built, 251 of them for the French Air Force . The stations were among others Cambrai , Colmar , Creil , Reims and Strasbourg . The fighter version F1C was still in service with the Army de l'Air until 2003. The machines were used in various military conflicts, including the Iran-Iraq war , the Alto Canepa border war between Ecuador and Peru, the South African war against the Namibian independence movement ( SWAPO ) and the Chad conflict .

Morocco intends to modernize its F1CH, F1EH and air refueling-capable F1EH-200s from 2010 with glass cockpit, new ejection seats, MICA missiles and Damocles homing containers.

In the summer of 2011, a few years before the expected decommissioning in France, the last F1 unit, the EC 02/033 Savoie , relocated to a new home base - the Mont-de-Marsan military airfield - as the previous one in Reims was closed. As of January 2013, two Mirage F1 CR were also used as reconnaissance aircraft as part of Opération Serval . The unit was decommissioned in June 2014, the last time F1 flew on July 14, 2014 over the Avenue des Champs-Élysées .

The Spanish Ejército del Aire decommissioned its last four Mirage F1s at the Los Llanos base in June 2013 , they were most recently only stationed with the 141st squadron of the 14th squadron there, previous users were the 11th squadron, then stationed in Manises , and the 462nd Squadron of the 46th Squadron in Gando .

technology

Compared to the Mirage III, a new, more conventional swept-wing wing in shoulder-wing design with sawtooth and leading edge flaps as well as separate elevators and higher fuel capacity was used. In conjunction with the more powerful Atar 9K turbine, in addition to increased maneuverability, improved low-level flight and take-off properties were achieved. The cockpit was equipped with F10M ejection seats. The model has a two-channel FBW control for all three axes with additional mechanical backup and automatic safety check. In addition to various bombs and rockets at five suspension points, two 30 mm DEFA automatic cannons with 135 shells each were used as armament.

variants

Mirage F1 CR & CT Armée de l'Air

Mirage F1C

First production version as a fighter with Cyrano IV radar. From 1977 with tank boom designated as F1C-200. From 1982 the F1CR with modified Cyrano IVMR, cameras and outstations for reconnaissance containers was produced for reconnaissance purposes.

Mirage F1CT

From 1992, machines converted from F1-200 to F1CT, equipped with advanced radar and central computer, head-up display and laser, were used. You were in service in France until 2013.

Mirage F1CR

After the switch to multi-purpose combat aircraft, a pure reconnaissance variant was dispensed with. The CR variant is a multi-purpose combat aircraft with devices for attaching reconnaissance containers. The Mirage F1CR-200 flew for the first time on November 20, 1981. Its sensors are installed externally and internally or can be attached. The sensors include:

• Infrared line scanner SAT SCM2400 Super Cyclone. It is located in the bow behind the radar nose.

The following cameras can also be installed under the nose:

• Panoramic photo camera Thomson-TRT 40 (or a Thomson-TRT 33 photo camera). The Cyrano IVM-R radar is under the bow. The side-looking airborne radar (SLAR) Raphaël TH or a container for electronic reconnaissance ASTAC ELINT can be carried on the fuselage pylon.

The Mirage F1CR was in service in France until 2014.

Mirage F1A

More simply equipped export variant.

Mirage F1B

Two-seater and 30 cm longer trainer version without automatic cannons with reduced fuel capacity. The first flight took place in 1976 and delivery began in October 1980.

Mirage F1E

Modernized version as a multi-role fighter.

Mirage F1D

Two-seat training variant based on the F1E.

Users

•  Ecuador : 16 Mirage F1JA, 2 Mirage F1JE
•  France : 162 Mirage F1C, 20 Mirage F1B, 57 Mirage F1CT (converted from Mirage F1C), 64 Mirage F1CR
•  Gabon : 6 Mirage F1AZ from South Africa
•  Greece : 40 Mirage F1CG
•  Iran :> 24 Mirage F1BQ / EQ from Iraq
•  Iraq : 105 Mirage F1EQ, 15 Mirage F1BQ
•  Jordan : 17 Mirage F1CJ, 17 Mirage F1EJ, 2 Mirage F1BJ
•  Qatar : 13 Mirage F1EDA, 2 Mirage F1DDA
•  Kuwait : 27 Mirage F1CK, 6 Mirage F1BK
•  Libya : 16 Mirage F1AD, 16 Mirage F1ED, 6 Mirage F1BD
•  Morocco : 30 Mirage F1CH, 14 Mirage F1EH, 6 Mirage F1-200
•  Spain : 45 Mirage F1CE, 22 Mirage F1EE, 6 Mirage F1BE

Commercial users

• Paramount Aerospace Systems (South Africa), 32 Mirage F1AZ, 16 Mirage F1CZ, some F1B
• Textron (USA). The subsidiary Airborne Tactical Advantage Company acquired 63 former French Mirage F1B, F1CT and F1CR for air combat training on behalf of the US Air Force.
• Draken International (USA) has acquired 20 former Spanish L Mirage F1Ms and 2 F1B aircraft for use in the Adversary Air role on behalf of the US Air Force.

Technical specifications

Three-sided view of the F1C

Parameter	Mirage F1C data	Mirage F1B data
length	15.25 m	15.55 m
span	8.44 m without start rails 9.32 m with Magic missiles on the wing tips	8.44 m
height	4.49 m
Wing area	25.0 m²
Wing extension	2.8
Empty mass	7,400 kg
Max. Takeoff mass	15,200 kg
Fuel supply	k. A.	lower than that of the Mirage F1C
Top speed	2,340 km / h (at an altitude of 12,000 m) 1,450 km / h (at sea level)	k. A.
Service ceiling	20,000 m	k. A.
Max. Rate of climb	213 m / s	k. A.
Radius of action	740 km	k. A.
Range	1,300 km	k. A.
Engine	a SNECMA Atar -9K-50 turbojet	k. A.
Thrust	with afterburner: 70.18 kN without afterburner: k. A.	with afterburner: k. A. without afterburner: k. A.

Armament

Guns integrated in the fuselage

• 2 × 30 mm M553 DEFA revolver cannons each with 135 rounds of ammunition, permanently installed on-board armament (except F1CR)

Explosive ordnance up to 4,000 kg at seven external load stations under the two wings and under the fuselage

Air-to-air guided missile

• 2 × launch rails for 1 × Matra R.550 “Magic 1/2” each - infrared-controlled short-range air-to-air guided missile
• 1 × Alkan 38DN launch rails for 1 × Matra R.530FE / ZE each - radar or infrared guided short-range air-to-air guided missile
• 2 × launch rails for 1 × Matra Super 530F-1 each - radar-guided medium-range air-to-air guided missile
• 2 × LAU-7 / A launch rails for 1 × Philco-Ford AIM-9P "Sidewinder" each - infrared-controlled short-range air-to-air guided missile

Air-to-surface guided missile

• 1 × Aérospatiale AM-39 “Exocet” anti-ship missile
• 2 × Aérospatiale AS-30L (laser-guided 520 kg guided missile)
• 2 × MATRA "ARMAT" (improved AS-37 Martel) - anti-radar guided missile

Unguided air-to-surface missiles

Unguided air-to-surface missiles

• 2 × Matra F1 rocket launchers for 36 × unguided SNEB air-to-surface missiles each ; Caliber 68 mm
• 2 × Matra F4 rocket launchers for 18 × unguided SNEB air-to-surface missiles each; Caliber 68 mm
• 2 × rocket launchers TBA 100-4 (F3) for 4 × unguided SNEB air-to-ground missiles each; 100 mm caliber

Guided bombs

• 2 × Matra BGL 1000 ( laser-guided 990 kg glide bomb)
• 4 × Raytheon GBU-49 / B "Enhanced Paveway II" (also EGBU-12; laser, GPS and INS-guided 227 kg glide bomb, based on a Mk.82 explosive bomb with front control and rear steering set)
• 4 × Raytheon GBU-22 / B "Paveway III" (laser-guided 227 kg / 611 lb glide bomb, based on a Mk.82 explosive bomb with control at the front and BSU-82 / B steering set at the rear)
• 2 × Raytheon GBU-16B / B "Paveway II" (laser-guided 496 kg / 1000 lb glide bomb, based on a Mk.83 explosive bomb with front control and rear steering set)

Unguided bombs

• 14 × Société des Ateliers Mécaniques de Pont-sur-Sambre (SAMP) EU2 (250 kg free-fall bomb; analogous to Mk.82)
• 2 × Rafaut AUF-2 bomb racks for 2 × Mark 82 each (227 kg free-fall bomb )
• 6 × Société des Ateliers Mécaniques de Pont-sur-Sambre (SAMP) T200 (400 kg free-fall bomb; analogous to Mk.83)
• 1 × 30-6-M2 bomb rack with 18 × Thomson-Brandt BAT 120 (34 kg anti-tank bomb)
• 1 × 30-6-M2 bomb rack with 18 × Thomson-Brandt BAP 100 (32 kg anti-runway bomb)
• 2 × Rafaut AUF-2 bomb rack for 2 × Matra / Thomson-Brandt BLG 66 "Belouga" (305 kg cluster bomb ) each
• 4 × Matra "Durandal" (rocket-propelled 219 kg anti-runway bomb)

Additional container

• 1 × Dassault CC-420 cannon container with 1 × 30 mm revolver automatic cannons M553 DEFA and 180 rounds of ammunition
• 2 × drop-off additional wing tanks RP35 / 2 for 1,200 liters of kerosene each
• 1 × drop-off lower hull additional tank RP35 for 2,200 liters of kerosene each

Additional reconnaissance container

• 1 × Thomson-CSF "Atlis II" (Automatic Tracking Laser Illuminating System) - laser target and navigation container
• 1 × Thomson-CSF SLAR 2000 "Raphael" - ground penetrating radar reconnaissance tank
• 1 × AMD-BA AA-3-38 "Harold" (reconnaissance container with cameras)
• 1 × Thomson-CSF Optronics "Presto" (Pod REconnaissance Stand Off; reconnaissance container with 610 mm LOROP wet film photo camera)
• 1 × Thales ASTAC (Airborne Electronic Reconnaissance System) -Aufklärungsbehälter - ELINT -Aufklärungsbehälter

Self-defense systems

Active measures

• 1 × Philips-Matra Phimat - decoy launcher with 210 chaff cartridges
• 1 × Matra "Corail" (contre-mesures optronique et radar integre par leurrage) flare launcher with an Alan 5020 launcher with 18 × 40 mm or 8 × 60 mm flares (flare)
• 1 × Thales Remora DB3163 - external ECM malfunction container
• 1 × Thales PAJ-FA - external ECM jamming container

Passive action

• 2 × ESM nacelles with radar warning sensor in the vertical stabilizer

gallery

• 

  Mirage F1C Armée de l'Air

• 

  Mirage F1B Armée de l'Air

• 

  Mirage F1CT Armée de l'Air

• 

  Mirage F1CR Armée de l'Air

See also

• Dassault Mirage
• Interceptor
• List of aircraft types

literature

• aerospace.org: Dassault Mirage F1 Multi-Role Fighter

Web links

Commons : Dassault Mirage F1  - collection of images, videos and audio files

• Media collection on dassault-aviation.com

Individual evidence

1. ↑ FliegerRevue August 2009, pp. 24–27, Mirage F1 - Classic in the Armée de l'Air
2. ↑ ^{a b} Armée de l'air: Hunting units on the BA 118. www.defense.gouv.fr, July 25, 2014, accessed on July 26, 2014 (French). 
3. ↑ Paramount Group bolsters Dassault Mirage F1 fleet, Janes, October 5, 2017
4. ↑ Arnaud: L'enterprise américaine ATAC racchète 63 Mirage F1 Français! ( French ) July 18, 2017. Archived from the original on September 24, 2017. Retrieved on September 22, 2017.
5. ↑ Leigh Giangreco: Textron unit acquires 63 Mirage F1s . September 19, 2017. Archived from the original on September 23, 2017. Retrieved on September 22, 2017.