Mirage F1 AZ / CZ Ordnance.

Information in this section was sourced from public records, leading publications and static exhibits accessible to the general public. 

Note: The SAAF remains tight lipped over the exact details of ordnance as used on the Mirage F1, especially during the Border War. If you can contribute photos, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it - full credit given.

Auxiliary Fuel Tanks:

The Mirage F1 AZ and CZ used both the standard French type centre line and underwing auxilliary fuel tanks. However, the centre line fuel tank was not popular with pilots. The AZ carried the underwing fuel tanks on most missions, during the Border War. Later in the 14 bomb configuration, the main underwing bomb dispenser, contained an integral fuel tank. This fuel/bomb rack combination is specific to the AZ in the 14 bomb configuration.

F1 CZ with centre line auxiliary fuel tank.

F1 AZ with under wing auxiliary fuel tanks. This could also be fitted to the CZ. This is another typical Border War configuration - 6x iron bombs, 2x underwing fuel tanks and 2x V3B missiles.

The latest underwing bomb rack as used in the 14 bomb configuration, use a underwing bomb dispenser unit, with integral fuel tank. Only the AZ carried this type of dispenser.

Iron Bombs:

A wide variety of dumb ordnance may be carried by all Mirage F1 variants, in both 125kg and 250kg iron bomb types. Despite the F1CZ being designed as an interceptor, it was also used as a "mud mover" during the Border War. South Africa developed a wide variety of fuses, explosive charges etc. highly effective against specific threats. Also, a wide variety of cluster bombs were locally developed.

Boosted Iron Bomb.	Retarded Iron Bomb.
The centre line bomb rack can accomodate 4 Mk81(125kg) or Mk82 (250kg) bombs. Note that the two bombs at the back, hang 5 degrees nose down.

PGM - Precision Guided Munitions:

In the last stages of the Border War conflict, the SAAF used indigenously developed PGM (Precision Guided Munitions) munitions including TV Guided Bombs. The first generation of this type was the so called "H2" glide bomb, which could also be delivered by the F1 AZ. A small TV sensor signalled the glide path back to the delivery aircraft. The pilot used a small joystick control to steer the H2 to its target. The SAAF did not use Laser Guided Bombs during the Border War conflict. This capability was however operational soon after hostilities had ceased, but too late for the Border War conflict. I am looking for info on the H2 - If you can contribute, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Air to Air Missile:

See also the Cheetah Ordnance article:

Early Missiles:

The first air-air missile in service with the SAAF was the MATRA R550 "Magic" followed by the MATRA R530. There are some reports that suggest a small number of early Sidewinders were also in service. Air to Air missiles were incorporated into the F1 CZ from its very first day in the SAAF. In the early days, for short range the Infra Red guided, Matra 550 was used. For longer range the radar guided, Matra R530 was used. However, R530 proved to be unsuitable for the demanding conditions in terms of war in Africa. Due to the number of problems experienced, the R530 was not used in the Border War area after the initial testing phase. It was also withdrawn from use within SA. The F1 CZ could carry two R530s on both inner wing pylons. Normally only one R530 was carried on the centre line pylon. The R550 was also found to be ineffective in the Border War (See "Vlamgat" by D. Lord for more info) and the development of locally designed air-air missile started in 1969 at the NIDefR (National Institute of Defence Research) by reverse engineering a Sidewinder's IR sensor. The first missile attempt were known as the V1 - simlar in appearance to the AIM 9B. From this atempt the V2 emerged and a local high tech company "Kentron" (today part of the DENEL group) was formed.	Matra R550 on Mirage F1CZ.
	Matra R530. Used on early Mirage III and F1CZ.
	Similar to V1A or AIM 9B.

New High Tech Generation:

The first practical missile was based on the R550 due to the numbers already in service with the SAAF. A new air-cooled IR seeker was developed which could be slaved to an indigenous developed, pilot helmet-mounted sight. This system offered the pilot the capability to achieve off axis missile lock-on. This missile was known as the V3A and entered service by 1978 for initial use by the F1 AZ and Mirage IIIs. It seemed Kentron was on the right track and work started almost immediately on the V3B "Kukri". The B model introduced a new improved rocket motor, new more sensitive IR seeker, better discrimination of the intended target and more resistance against counter measures. The helmet-mounted sight was improved with even larger off axis missile lock-on capability. The V3B has a unique profile which incorporated shaped canards. It was effectively a tail aspect missile with maximum range of between 2 - 4 km, which is the length of a commercial runway! It entered service from 1982 and was the standard missile used in the Border War and even saw service on the early Cheetahs. Greater range and all aspect capability were urgently needed, but everything needed to be developed from scratch due to the arms embargo.The next generation was the V3C ("Darter") and the profile looks similar to the later MATRA Magic. The previous missiles used moving canards, but the C model used moving elevons. Maximum range was increased and was the first air-air missile with genuine all-aspect capability, with the use of a high-tech IR seeker. Due to the delivery period, and as an interim measure, an all aspect missile, called the "Snake" was aquired, but arrived in the final few weeks when hostilities came to an end in the Border War. On the V3C the designator limits of the helmet sight were increased further while the seeker head had both bore sight and seeker modes. The missile used digital systems with "smart" capability. Various algorithms are pre programmed to increase the chances of a kill and not simply home in on the hottest spot. A 16-kg fragmentation warhead is used and is lethal out to a radius of 7m. The V3C was for many years the backbone of SA's air defence capability and saw extensive service on the Cheetah and Mirage F1 CZ / AZ. The missile was too late for the Border War and the first generation of the V3C entered service in the early 90s. Kentron managed to constantly improve the missiles with newer technology components and the final version of the V3C was renamed the "U-Darter". This version first entered service in 1997 as the standard short range missile with a range of 8km. All the air-air missiles so far were essentially WVR (Within Visual Range) missiles. Due to lessons learnt in the Border War conflict, the SAAF set out on a programme to offer BVR (Beyond Visual Range) missiles to its fighters. As an interim measure the V3S was developed utilising key components from the Rafael Python 3 and Kentron V3C missiles. But this missile arrived in inventory after hostilities ceased in the Border War and was thus not used operationally This missile was fully integrated on the F1 AZ. The next missile considered came as a result of the possible upgrade of the SAAF's F1s with the Russian SMR-95 engine. The missile considered was the AA-11 Archer. Initially this missile was named V3P but in the end this was only a feasibility study and the whole project cancelled. This was also due to the CZ retirement, the cancellation of the Russian engine project and the new V4 missile already under development. However the V3P was for specific use on the F1CZ and possibly later the AZ. The V3C and "U-Darter" were followed by the V4 or "R-Darter" and entered production in 1994 as a 4th generation missile. This high tech missile gave the SAAF a very capable BVR (Beyond Visua Range) capability. Although the SAAF's BVR capability is supposed to be on the classified list, this aspect is highlighted in the report in "SA Soldier" published in 2002. As the V4 has sophisticated BVR, look-down / shoot-down capability, it offered the SAAF a strategic capability very few other air forces had. Further the missile may be launched in either of two modes: LOBL ("Lock On Before Launch") or LOAL ("Lock On After Launch"). Even more exceptional: this capability existed in the SAAF for a number of years, but is only now considered essential for future fighter aircraft. However this missile was not used on the F1. The V4 will also be used by the Gripen in SAAF service.	V3B top, V3A middle, AIM 9B bottom. Note: different launcher rails.
	AZ firning a V3B missile.
	V3C missile.
	U-Darter on Mirage F1CZ.
	F1 AZ with V3C missiles and dropping an anti infra red decoy flare. Note unusual colour scheme on nose.

Cannon:

All Mirage F1s retain the twin internal DEFA canons similar to the type used in the Mirage III. The cannons received some local modifications and component upgrades. This cannon type is credited with two MiG 21 kills during the Border War conflict.

Reconnaissance:

During the time of the Border War, the SAAF used almost every fast jet aircraft for various aerial reconnaisance tasks. Aircraft used in this role include the Buccanneer, Impala, Mirage III and the Canberra. France have used the F1 CR as it's primary tactical reconnaissance aircraft for a number of years. However, the SAAF did not use the F1 in this role.

Air to Ground Ordnance:

An AZ in typical later Border War configuration. Centre line 4 bomb MER, two under wing drop tanks, additional two bombs on the outer under wing pylons and two wing tip mounted V3B missiles. In front of the aircraft is the Nord AS 30 missile. Note the AS30 antenna ahead of the ventral strakes.

Both the F1 AZ & CZ could be fitted with the Matra F4 68mm rocket pods. These pods house 18, 68mm rockets. Normal load was four Matra F4 pods with a centre line fuel tank. This configuration was unpopular with pilots due to high drag. The standard air to ground missile used by the SAAF was the Nord AS 30, with the AS 20 used as a training round. This missile could only be carried by the AZ, which use a special antenna, to steer the missile. This is mounted just ahead of the twin ventral strakes on the bottom of the aircraft.  Although highly effective against anti aircraft installations, the missile was not popular with pilots, due to the method of delivery. The pilot has to steer the missile to it's target, which leaves the AZ vulnerable to other anti aircraft systems.

Counter Measurers:

Chaff & flare dispensers were housed in a slightly modified ventral strake on both the AZ & CZ.	During the Border War conflict the SAAF faced one of the world's most advanced air defence networks. Modern anti aircraft systems comprised, high tech missiles (infra red & radar guided), wide area radar coverage, short range radar, and the latest anti aircraft guns. The SAAF adapted, and subsequently the SAAF pilots emerged as one of the pioneers of modern low level flying tactics to avoid anti aircraft systems and for ordnance delivery. But this aspect alone could not guarantee success in every aspect. First to be used in the war against the anti aircraft systems were the use of Threat Situation Indicators with the use of Radar Warning Receivers. On going development of these systems led to SA as a leader in this area with the latest systems exported and in use in a number of foreign Air Forces. But as the pilots point out, the early variants of these systems were rather a device that indicated how quickly you are about to die. The next step was the use of effective passive counter measurers. Especially on the F1 this was a priority and the first chaff & flare systems were installed in the ventral strakes at the bottom of the aircraft. The dispensers were mounted in a slightly modified ventral strake, which is a bit wider if viewed from the front with reduced vertical dimensions. This had the added advantage that this capability of the SAAF could not be easily recognised from intelligence photos. However only a limited number of dispensers could be carried. In order to increase the number of dispensers, a new dispenser was developed, which is fitted between the fuselage and the first inner wing pylon on both wings. This new dispenser was not used during the Border War and appeared at Sqdn level shortly before the AZ was retired. The ventral strakes with integral dispensers were retained. The next step was the development of Active Counter measurers. This was developed in record time and housed in a special pod, normally carried on the outer under wing pylon. These systems were highly effective during the Border War, despite teething problems. The latest systems are in use on the Cheetah C, but the SAAF has not released any specific details. To this day the SAAF is highly respected for it's capability to mount effective air support, air defence and counter air operations during the Border War - despite the advanced air defence network in use against the SAAF, at the time.
An additional two chaff & flare dispensers may be fitted between the fuselage and inner wing pylon.
The first type of active counter measurers were housed in a special pod mounted on the outer under wing pylon.