The Mirage III: An Icon of Military Aviation Says Goodbye
One of the stalwarts of military aviation, the Mirage III, has retired from operations on its native continent. This aircraft, a product of French company Dassault, revolutionized the 1950s, as it was the first Western European fighter to reach Mach 2 in level flight.
Our media partner Aeroin reports that the Brazilian Air Force operated the Mirage III from 1972 to 2005, with several models upgraded during their service in Brazil. Notably, racing legend Ayrton Senna also piloted this fighter jet during his time with the Brazilian Air Force.
Argentina maintained a substantial fleet of Mirage III’s, which saw action in the Falklands War. The country also operated the Mirage 5 and IAI Nesher variants, affectionately known as “Dagger”.
The Mirage III Phases Out
The Mirage III, an aging model, has already been retired by most countries. This legendary delta-winged fighter is currently in service only with the Pakistan Air Force and a civilian museum in Switzerland. The museum, in possession of a donated model, offered operational flights for aviation enthusiasts.
However, in October 2022, the Swiss civil aviation authority withdrew the flight authorization for the Mirage IIIDS fighter jet, registration HB-RDF, citing aging parts and engine components. Despite the museum’s disagreement and unsuccessful attempts to repeal the decision, the ruling ended its tourist flights, the last of which occurred on Thursday, May 25, 2023.
To commemorate the farewell at Payerne Airport, the Mirage III was escorted by four Swiss Boeing F-18 Hornet fighter jets and a guest Mirage 2000-5F from the French Air Force.
Pakistan: The Last Bastion of the Mirage III
The retirement of this civil aircraft leaves Pakistan as the only remaining country operating the Mirage III, with no scheduled decommissioning date.
As of 2023, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) operates 87 Mirage III aircraft out of 135 received. These multirole aircraft, introduced in 1968, have undergone several upgrades under Project ROSE. Nevertheless, the Mirage IIIs are being phased out and replaced by JF-17 aircraft as part of the PAF’s modernization program.
In response to growing regional tensions with India, Pakistan has begun procuring Chengdu J-10CE medium multi-role combat aircraft from China. The first batch of 25 single-seat J-10CEs was ordered last year, with deliveries commencing this year.
Eventually, the J-10CEs will replace the PAF’s existing Mirage III fleet. The first six J-10CEs were inducted by the PAF’s No. 15 ‘Cobras’ squadron, previously equipped with Mirage IIIPs and Mirage-VPs.
