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Hello everyone, and welcome to this new suggestion.
Today, I’m talking about the reconnaissance version of one of the aircraft we already have in the game, the Mirage III R.
The Mirage III R is a reconnaissance version of the famous Mirage III fighter, developed by Dassault Aviation in the late 1950s. Derived from the Mirage IIIE, it retained the airframe and SNECMA Atar 9C engine, but its radar nose was replaced by a set of fixed cameras for tactical and strategic reconnaissance. The first flight of the Mirage III R took place in 1961, and it entered service shortly after, with supersonic flight capabilities close to Mach 2. The Mirage III R was designed to carry out high and low altitude photographic reconnaissance missions, penetrating enemy airspace at high speed. It was produced in several dozen copies and also had a wide export career (Switzerland, Pakistan, Israel, etc.). Several sub-versions were created, notably the Mirage III RD and the III RJ, depending on the specific needs of customers or technical developments.
In the French Air Force, the Mirage III R entered service in the early 1960s, replacing subsonic reconnaissance aircraft such as the Vautour. It was used primarily by strategic reconnaissance squadrons, where its high speed, high-altitude capability, and onboard photographic equipment enabled it to map and monitor areas of interest while minimizing its exposure to enemy defenses. It was used in peacetime as well as in overseas operations, notably in Africa and in the early stages of certain conflicts, where image intelligence was crucial. Despite the lack of a gunnery radar, it could carry additional fuel tanks and jammers to improve its survivability. The Mirage III R was gradually phased out of service in the 1980s, replaced by more modern aircraft such as the Mirage F1CR, and later the Rafale with the Reco NG pod. However, it remains an important milestone in the history of French aerial reconnaissance.
Characteristics
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Length : 15.03 m
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Width : 8.22 m
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Height : 4.25 m
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Mass :
- Min : ~6,700 kg
- Max : ~13,700kg
The Mirage III R is powered by the ATAR 9C (engine that will be put into service on the Mirage III E). This allows it to reach more than Mach 2 and reach an altitude of 16,500 meters.
Equipment
To build the Mirage III R, Dassault engineers had to remove the radar to allow for the installation of a camera in the nose of the aircraft. As a result, the Mirage III R features the following equipment.
- 5 OMERA of 100mm, 200mm and 600mm focal length
- OMERA 60 in its aft keel
The aircraft has no RWR or countermeasures to defend itself
Weapons
This aircraft, being intended purely for reconnaissance, was not intended to carry weapons. However, being derived from the Mirage III C and E, it retains the two ventral 30mm DEFA cannons, allowing it to defend itself in dogfights.
In-game, this aircraft would be an interesting addition to the French tree. Being a very fast aircraft but not having very powerful offensive weapons or countermeasures, the Mirage III R could complete the French tree before the Mirage III C.