RAAF went with The Mirage III to replace its Sabre fighters.
They also looked at F-5, F-104, F-105 and Lightning.
Lightning was too specialised, high tire pressure and range was too short.
F-105 was rejected as too expensive, complex and inadequate performance (probably in fighter role)
F-5 rejected as performance was inadequate.
So down to F-104 and Mirage III
Went with Mirage III due ti:
Runway performance – 135 vs 285 psi
Lower chance of FOD
Less chance of stalling
No gun issues
Ferry range was 1670 nm vs 1517 nm
Higher cruise speed
Higher loiter altitude
Cheaper
Better landing characteristics
They had to go with two variants
Mirage IIIO(F) which lacks air to ground weapons. Flown by No 75 and No 76 Squadrons
Mirage IIIO(A) with added fuel, doppler navigation. Flown by No 3 and No 77 Squadrons.
Also eight III(A) were fitted with option of swapping radar for low altitude cameras.
Initial weapons were AIM-9B (1965-84) then Magic 1 (1984-88), and R530 AAM (1965-85)
Attack weapons were UK 500 and 1000 lb bombs (1960s), Mk82 bombs (around 1970), Mk82SE (1975?), MK84 (1970s) and GBU-12 Paveway II (1980).
III(F) were converted to III(O) by 1970.
When No 76 squadron disbanded in 1973, all squadrons went to multirole. However flight hours remained the same and the avionics limited pilot experience. For example teh attack units were no longer proficient in low altitude attacks in poor weather or by night.
Hours dropped in 1975. Squadrons were highly skilled in dogfighting, medium in intercepts and low as all weather
By 1983 70% of role was fighter, 30% attack.
They were directly replaced by the F-18A Hornet from 1985.
There was a proposal to purchase the 24 leased F-4E (served 1970-73) and purchase a further 40 F-4E, 8 RF-4E and 8 KC-135 but this too expensive. This would have partially replaced the Mirage III and delayed the replacement MRF (F-18A Hornet).
In any case the F-111C entered service in 1973, which largely released the Mirage IIIO from the attack role.
Sign In
