- Yes
- No
Mirage 50CN Pantera
History:
Due to the Beagle crisis in 1978 that would put Chile and Argentina on the verge of war, the latter country began a process of purchases initially acquiring in Israel 26 improved IAI Nesher called Dagger, this fact made Chile accelerate the process of purchases in France, that is how in 1980 8 Mirage 50FC (French-Chilean) arrived in Chile that were Mirage 5F repowered with the Atar 9K-50. Later, in 1982, 6 Mirage 50C arrived in Chile (Numbered from 509 to 514), which were totally new from the factory and carried the Agave radar, and 2 Mirage 50DC trainers. Throughout this period, these new aircraft were deployed throughout the country in the face of the war threat from Argentina that would end with the British victory in the Falkland Islands and in 1984 Argentina recognizing Chilean sovereignty over the islands Picton, Nueva and Lennox.
Once the conflict between the aforementioned countries ended in Chile, a study began on the performance of the Argentine Dagger and Mirage in the war, reaching the conclusion that the Shafrir II was not enough to confront the fighters armed with more modern missiles such as the AIM-9L, it was also noted that in-flight refueling was a priority as well as greater maneuverability. This is how the newly created Empresa Nacional de Aeronautica (ENAER) began the development of a first modernization program for the Chilean Mirage 50 called “Project Bracket.”
Under the advice and support of Israel Aircraft Industries, the Mirage 50C No. 514 was used as a prototype of the modernization, the fighter incorporated fillets generated of vortices following the radar cone and canard fins. After aerodynamic tests, it was presented at FIDA 1986 (international air fair) as Mirage 50CN, this would be the first modernization and the first name change.
Later, it was decided to implement even more updates and improvements to the Mirage 50, becoming the most important modernization project in the history of Chile; In addition, the landing gear was replaced by another similar to those used by IAI Kfir aircraft, in order to be able to lift heavier external loads, and the integration of a new nose section Kfir style that extended its nose by one meter length, this change allowed the integration of navigation equipment of British origin and the integration of a new radar, the ELTA EL/M2001B manufactured in Israel. The first aircraft to integrate all these changes was the same Mirage 50C No. 514 previously used as an aerodynamic test bench.
The head of the project by IAI in Chile was the current Director of Operations of IAI, Beni Manes. A mechanical engineer by profession, the Israeli was a key figure in the development of the first Pantera, bringing out his vast experience and knowledge on delta-wing platforms.
This is how, once all these changes were completed, the Mirage 50C N°514, previously called CN during the Bracket project, was presented at the ENAER headquarters on October 14, 1988 under the name Pantera, showing off its new paint scheme that It included the name Pantera with the shape of the feline on both sides of the bow and a black panther on both sides of the drift. It is very important to highlight that this first prototype of the Pantera still retained the original RWR BF from the factory, easily recognizable by the two bullet or pencil-shaped antennas present in the upper part of the tail of the plane.
Subsequently, all Mirage 50s in Chile were brought to the Pantera standard and integrated an electronic warfare suite developed locally in Chile by the DTS company, which was a subsidiary of ENAER. The suite was called EWPS-100 and included the RWR Caiquén III (DM/ A-104), Eclipse (DM/A-202) chaff and flare dispensers, and a DM/A-401 electronic countermeasures system (to see the specifications of Caiquén III and Eclipse see the specifications section below). The cockpit received a multifunction liquid-crystal display to the left of the main panel. On the central part of the panel was a gyroscope linked to a computerised head-up display, working with an Elop intertial navegation system. The new Chilean RWR was easily recognizable as it consisted of 4 spherical-shaped antennas located at the rear and front of the Pantera, two near the nose of the plane and two at the top of the tail of the plane. Two new missile launchers were also added under the wings, now being able to launch up to a maximum of 4 missiles. In-flight refueling probes were also installed.
At first, the Pantera continued using the Shafrir II missile, but beginning in 1990, efforts began to integrate the Python III missile. The tests of this new missile on the Pantera took place in 1993, and it was approved and integrated into the entire Pantera fleet. For the same dates, the possibility of integrating Griffin laser-guided bombs was evaluated, which in 1995 were integrated into the FACH inventory and used by the Pantera. Elta EL/L 8212 Self-Protection ECM Jamming Pods were also added.
The modernization cost per aircraft was close to 14 million dollars, a fairly high figure taking into account that a F-16A could be obtained for 20 million dollars in the early 90s. The modernization of the fleet would not end until until 2001 when Mirage No. 501, converted to the Pantera standard, was delivered, being the last. A total of 14 Mirage 50, including C, FC and DC models, were converted to the Pantera standard. All were removed from service in 2007.
Mirage 50CN Pantera, Python 3 missile launch and cockpit images
Specifications:
- Crew:
- 1
- Armament:
- Primary: 2x 30mm DEFA 552A internal cannons
- Secondary: hardpoint mountings 7 support 4,000 kg:
- Bombs: Cardoen GP Bombs (Mk 81, 82, 83, 84), Cardoen Cluster Bombs (CB-130, CB-500, CB-250-K, CB-500-K), Snake-eye bombs, LGB Griffin.
- Missiles: Shafrir 2, Python III.
- Rockets: 68mm SNEB rocket pods.
- Additional systems: Radar ELTA EL/M2001B, Caiquén III RWR, Eclipse Chaff/flare (between 36 and 72) , Device for launching laser-guided bombs, Vortex-generating fillets on the aircraft’s nose and canard flaps, Mid-air refueling lance.
- Dimensions:
- Lenght: 17.0 m
- Wingspan: 8.22 m
- Height: 4.50 m
- Empty weight: 7,150 kg
- Weight maximum take-off: 13,700 kg
- Performance:
- Powerplant: Atar 9K-50 that provides 5,000 kg Normal thrust, 7,200 kg. thrust at full power
- Maximum speed: 2350 km/h
- Service Ceiling: 18000 m
- Range: 4000 km
- Rate of climb: 186 m/s
- Characteristics and Specifications of Caiquén III (DM/A-104) RWR and Eclipse (DM/A-202) chaff and flare:
- Chilean Bombs specifications:
CARDOEN GP BOMBS (general purpose)
CARDOEN CLUSTER BOMBS
Photos:
Sources:
- Del Vampire al Viper Recargado...!: Historia de los Jets de Combate de la Fuerza Aérea de Chile (Aviation Art & History - Chilean Air Force) (Spanish Edition): Arróspide, Julio, Zamora, Raúl, Marambio, Cristián: 9798478360191: Amazon.com: Books
- Amazon.com: Mirages of the Armée de l'Air in the Chilean Air Force eBook : Arróspide, Julio, Gannier, Alexandre, Zamora, Raúl: Kindle Store
- El Mirage 50 Pantera en la Fuerza Aérea de Chile
- Jane’s Air-Launched Weapons 1997
- Jane’s avionics 1997-98
- Jane’s radar and electronic warfare systems 2002-2003
- Latin American Mirages by Santiago Rivas and Juan Carlos Cicalesi
