Dassault Mirage III NG
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France Multirole aircraft

-History

Dassault proposed an upgrade of Mirage III/5, the Mirage 50, powered by an Atar 9K50 wich already fitted Mirage F1 and being fitte with a radar Agave (Super Etendard), or Cyrano IVM (Mirage F1) depending on main mission assigned to the aircraft. Internal armament is two 30 mm DEFA 552A cannons. It can climb at 17 000 m in less than 8 minutes and ensure an interception at 325 km from its base.
Two countries ordered Mirage 50 : Chile and Venezuela. Chilean specimens were upgraded by Empresa Nacional Aeronáutica de Chile (ENAER) from july 1986 with technical assistance of Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI).It's then known as Pantera. Venezuela also upgraded its specimens.

Early 80's Dassault also proposed an upgrade version of Mirage III, Mirage III NG (Nouvelle Génération), made in three years from the Mirage 50 prototype airframe.
Differences being the added non-retractable swept-back foreplanes and highly-swept wing root leading-edge extensions, fly-by-wire controls derived from that of the Mirage 2000, navigation/attack system inspired from that of the Mirage F1 and Mirage 2000, an equipment for in-flight refuelling, but still withe ATAR 9K50 turbojet of Mirage 50.
Maximum take-off weight is increased significantly by comparison with the Mirage III. This enables the external load carrying capability to be increased.
It first flew on december 21, 1982 at Istres by Patrick Experton, during one hour during which he reached Mach 1 and the altitude of 11 500 m.
Because the lack of orders, it wasn't produced.
Technical features
Wingspan8,22 m 3 views
Length15,09 m
Height4,50 m
Wing area35 m2 + 1 m2
Gross weight14700 kg
Max speedMach 2,2
Ceiling at Mach 216460 m
Turbojet1 SNECMA Atar 9K50 of 7060 daN thrust with afterburner
Armament2 x 30 mm cannons

CAEA's specimen
Mirage III NG was preserved at Istres by Conservatoire du Patrimoine Aéronautique Istréen wich entrusted it to us in march 2004.

Now at Istres

Documentary sources
Aviation magazine n 842.
30 ans d'avions Dassault.
Jane's all the aircraft 1986-87.

Mirage 5 F
Back to Collection
Mirage IV P