The Swiss Mirage IIIs fighter requires the integration of AIM-9P missiles (Flz Lwf LL 63/80) to remain competitive at the 10.3 battle rating. In a previous update, the drag coefficient of the AIM-26B missile was significantly increased, causing its effective range to drop from the original AIM-7E level to below that of the AIM-9P. This change not only reduced its range but also severely compromised its maneuverability and operational versatility. The AIM-26B suffers from a two-second maneuver delay and currently has a very short range, rendering it unable to effectively engage in maneuvers when launched at close range and lacking sufficient reach for long-range engagements. Although the missile remains marginally usable at BR 10.3, its performance does not compensate for the disadvantage of its infrared variant being limited to AIM-9E-level capabilities.
As a result, the Mirage IIIs struggles to exert meaningful pressure on lower-tier opponents in down-tier battles, lagging far behind same-rating aircraft such as the Super Étendard, MiG-21SMT/MF, J35XS, and F8U-2. For instance, the J35XS carries six AIM-9P missiles, which more than offset its lack of a RWR and limited countermeasure capacity. The F8U-2 is equipped with four AIM-9D missiles; although the AIM-9D lacks off-boresight capability and has slightly inferior maneuverability compared to the AIM-9P, it still significantly outperforms the AIM-9E and boasts a considerably longer range.
Moreover, the Mirage IIIs’ maneuverability is underwhelming. While its flight performance is broadly comparable to that of the J35XS, the latter vastly outperforms it in firepower. If the Mirage IIIs were equipped with AIM-9P missiles, it would carry slightly fewer missiles than the J35XS but benefit from a greater number of countermeasures and the inclusion of an RWR, resulting in a more balanced overall matchup.