Dassault Breguet Mirage F1

Mairage F1

Mirage is the beautiful and evocative word chosen by Avions Marcel Dassault (which later became Dassault Breguet)as the name for its modern jet combat planes. The classic Mirage of the 1970s, which has given superb service for more than two decades, is the Mirage F1.

Battle tested, the Mirage F1 has been a bastion of France's air defence capability for many years. Equally sucessful as a ground-attack and reconnaissance airplane, it is respected by its allies and feared by its enemies.

The first of more than 220 aircraft for the freanh air force were ordered in 1969, with the initial production fighter being delivered on May 14, 1973. The first operational unit was 30 Escadre de Chasse, which converted to the type on December of that year.

It has also been a great success in the export market, having been sold to 10 air forces. South African F1As were adapted as strike aircraft with secondary air-to-air duties.

It was used by both sides during the Gulf War, though eight of Irag's Mirage F1EQ fighters were downed by American and Saudi F-15 Eagles.

Mairage F1

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