 |
 |
Dassault Mirage
 Dassault Falcon 7X |
Dassault Aviation is a French aerospace company with proven dual expertise as a manufacturer of both military aircraft and business jets. The company has created more than 100 prototypes in the last century, with over 10,000 aircraft delivered to 90 countries.
The popular Dassault Falcon business jet was launched in 1965, and since then over 2,500 have been delivered to 1,230 operators in 90 countries.
Mirage is a name given to a series of several jet aircraft designed by Dassault Aviation, most of which are supersonic fighters with delta wings.
A number of variants in the Mirage series have been built over the years, including:
- Mirage III
- Mirage 5
- Mirage 50
-
Mirage IV
Dassault Mirage F1 of the French Air Force - Mirage F1
- Mirage 2000
Dassault Mirage III
Designed and built within the framework of the light interceptor program defined by the French Air Force after the Korean War (1950-1953), the Mirage III was a bomber fighter aircraft with a delta wing and a fuselage designed according to the area rule, which gave it a distinctive waisted profile.
Mirage III was produced in large numbers for both the French Air Force and a wide number of export customers. It was the first Western European combat aircraft to exceed Mach 2 in horizontal flight.
The Mirage III has been used in live combat roles in multiple conflicts by a number of air forces.
Over 1,400 have been built.
Dassault Mirage III A3-113 of the Royal Australian Air Force |
 |
Dassault Mirage III of the Royal Australian Air Force |
 |
Mirage F1
 Refueling pole on the Dassault Mirage F1 |
Mirage F1 was developed as a successor to the Mirage III. The F1 was designed to function as both an interceptor aircraft and as a ground attack platform.
It is powered by a single turbojet engine and armed with an array of French and American-sourced armaments. The Mirage F1 has been operated as a light multipurpose fighter and has been exported to around a dozen nations.
The Mirage F1 uses a shoulder-mounted swept wing, instead of the Delta wing of the Mirage III, which resulted in a more than 50% reduction in required runway lengths and increased internal fuel tankage for 40% greater combat range.
There was no refueling pole before number 200 in the series. The fixed pole is mounted on the right side of the nose.
In 2017, Airborne Tactical Advantage Company (ATAC) became the owner of 63 Dassault Mirage F1s of the French Air Force, after their withdrawal from service in 2014. ATAC is a U.S. government contractor that operates various military aircraft in tactical flight training for the U.S. Navy, Air Force, and Air National Guard.
A total of 720 of this variant had been built when production ended in 1992.
Dassault Mirage F1 112-CV of the French Air Force |
 |
Dassault Mirage F1B of Armée de l'Aire, 118-SC, in flight (Photo by DELEHELLE Eric) |
Under fuselage view of Dassault Mirage F1B, 118-SC, N° 517 (Photo by DELEHELLE Eric) |
 |
Dassault Mirage F1B, 118-SW, landing with drogue chute open (Photo by DELEHELLE Eric) |
 |
Dassault Mirage F1CT, N° 260 (Photo by DELEHELLE Eric) |
 |
Cockpit view of Dassault Mirage F1CR, 118-NQ (Photo by DELEHELLE Eric) |
 |
Side view of Dassault Mirage F1CR, N° 655, 33-FB ... 100 ANS (Photo by DELEHELLE Eric) |
 |
Mirage 2000
The Mirage 2000 was designed in the late 1970s as a lightweight fighter to replace the Mirage III for the French Air Force. Early models included the 2000B and 2000C. It evolved into a multirole aircraft with several variants delivered to various nations.
Later models included the Mirage 2000D and 2000N strike variants, the improved Mirage 2000-5 and several export variants. (See photos below)
Over 600 Mirage 2000 had been built when production ended in 2007, and today remain in service in the air forces of nine nations.
Dassault Mirage 2000B of the Armée de l'Air, 115-OR, N° 527 (Photo by DELEHELLE Eric) |
 |
Dassault Mirage 2000C of the Armée de l'Air, 115-KF, N° 111 (Photo by DELEHELLE Eric) |
 |
Dassault Mirage 2000D aircraft of the Armée de l'Air, in flight, 3-IO (left) and 3-IT (right) (Photos by DELEHELLE Eric) |
 |
 |
 |
Dassault Mirage 2000D 133-XT of the Armée de l'Air, special livery - 70 Years - 1943-2013 (DELEHELLE Eric) |
 |
 |
 |
Dassault Mirage 2000N of the Armée de l'Air, 125-AE, N° 355 (Photo by DELEHELLE Eric) |
 |
Dassault Mirage 2000N 125-AM of the Armée de l'Air, special livery (DELEHELLE Eric) |
 |
Dassault Mirage 2000-5 of the Armée de l'Air, 116-EL, N° 58 (Photo by DELEHELLE Eric) |
 |
More Information About the Mirage
Official Dassault Aviation website
Dassault Aviation Falcon website
History of Mirage III development - official Dassault Aviation website