Dassault Mirage
Mirage is a name given to several types of jet aircraft designed by the French company Dassault Aviation, some of which were produced in different variants. Most were supersonic fighters with delta wings. The most successful was the Mirage III in its many variants and derivatives, which were widely produced and modified both by Dassault and by other companies. Some variants were given other names, while some otherwise unrelated types were given the Mirage name.
Early prototypes
MD550 Mystère Delta, the original Dassault experimental delta jet, which provided the baseline for the main Mirage series. Two were built, later renamed Mirage I and II respectively:Mirage III/5/50 series
The most successful line of Mirages were a family of supersonic delta-winged fighters, all sharing the same basic airframe but differing in powerplant, equipment and minor details. Early examples were tailless, while many later variants had canard foreplanes added.France
The main production variants include:Mirage III, definitive production type which established the series.Mirage 5, developed from the Mirage III.Mirage 50, developed from the Mirage 5.Minor projects and prototypes include:Balzac, Mirage IIIT and Mirage IIIV: Prototypes researching supersonic VTOL design. The Balzac and Mirage IIIV both had VTOL capability.Milan: a Mirage III example, modified with retractable foreplanes or "moustaches".Mirage IIING, developed from the Mirage 50 and featuring fixed canard foreplanes similar to the preceding Milan. Like the Milan, only one airframe was converted.
Israel
Israel produced several progressive developments of the Mirage 5:IAI Nesher, a standard Mirage 5 with revised avionics.IAI Kfir, re-engined with further revised avionics and canard foreplane.IAI Nammer, again re-engined with further revised avionics and canard foreplane. Prototype only.Pakistan
Pakistan acquired a number of used Mirage IIIs and 5s, manufactured variously in France and Australia.- Project ROSE upgraded the fleet with new avionics.