Due to the arms embargo, the procurement of new fighter aircraft was impossible. This despite the fact that South Africa essentially stood alone against communist aggression. The Mirage III type was even older, (the first examples arrived in 1962), with the airframes subjected to harsh use during operational flying in the Border War area. Following the successful upgrade of Mirage type aircraft by other air forces, in particular the Israeli Kfir and the French Mirage III NG, prompted the SAAF to evaluate this option. It would not be difficult for the local aviation industry to emulate such an programme. Furthermore a large number of SAAF Mirage III aircraft were available for use in an upgrade programme. As the Mirage III type was used as a second line of defence during that time, the SAAF's primary line of defence, in the form of the Mirage F1 would not be affected. However, this meant the F1 would have to fly more missions to compensate for the withdrawn Mirage III aircraft. Often overlooked, but the Mirage III is such a unique design with superb outright performance and with modern improvements in aerodynamics and high tech avionics the aircraft is transformed in a formidable aircraft type. In recent years the high tech avionics are an essential part of modern aircraft and the Cheetah gave the SAAF an aircraft in which such components could be fitted. Much has been written on the link between South Africa and Israel, as no official statement has ever been released by both countries, these could be regarded as mere speculation. It is safe to assume some exchange of technology took place, but all aircraft were converted and build in South Africa by Atlas Aviation. A large content was locally designed and the Cheetah caught a number of people off guard, as many thought such a programme was beyond South Africa's capability. Once again the arms embargo had the opposite effect, with South Africa emerging as a capable arms supplier to take on the world's best.

For more info on Atlas Aircraft Corporation see the Impala Knowledge Base article. The main initial aim of Atlas was to license built the Aermacchi MB326 jet trainer and to form a support structure for aircraft in SAAF service. The assembly and support of Mirage III and Mirage F1 aircraft gave Atlas considerable experience in all aspects of fast jet aircraft. South Africa was the largest user of different variants of the Mirage III which included both single and double seaters. A total number of 58 were in service with the SAAF which included Mirage III types optimised for interception, strike, training and reconnaissance duties.  The only viable option was to upgrade the Mirage III aircraft. As the aircraft would essentially be a new fighter type capable of meeting modern threats, key areas were identified that needed substantial upgrades.

Aerodynamic refinement:

The airframe was re-worked down to zero hours, with faulty parts of the structure replaced or re-manufactured. On some airframes more than half of the entire airframe were replaced. The internal structure was refurbished and the main spar replaced. The wing was the main area of aerodynamic improvement. New sharply drooped leading edges with "dog tooth" extensions were fitted. The dogtooth generates a powerful vortex to keep airflow "attached" to the elevons at high AOA (angles of attack). Modern elevons are used, controlled by a twin computer flight control system which uses a modern AOA sensor as one of its primary inputs. Bottom of the wing was re-skinned to solve the cracking problem around the fuel drain outlet. A plug between the cockpit and the new nose cone provide space for new systems. The new long nose upset the centre of gravity and was a contributing factor for fitting the aircraft with canards.

The only photo released by Atlas Aviation of the Cheetah upgrade, while on the production line.

Avionics:

The key element of the Cheetah design was the capability to fit the aircraft with modern high tech electronic components in easy upgradeable package containers or more commonly referred to as "black boxes". To ease such upgrades in future a standard military bus is used and the components are simply slotted into the architecture. This solution was so successful that a similar system is in use on Rooivalk - South Africa's advanced attack helicopter and has the advantage that virtually any weapon system can be fitted to Rooivalk, with minimum interfacing development. The fitment of high tech systems to the Cheetah is often overlooked as the main reason for the programme. This aircraft offered the SAAF a platform that could house systems essential for an effective fighter in future conflicts. A recent article in "SA Soldier" highlights this aspect and seems the SAAF already used key future systems for a number of years that are only now being regarded as core elements for future fighter aircraft. New modern light weight radar replaced the early generation radars as used in the Mirages. A modern HUD was fitted and the pilot's helmet mounted sight upgraded. This South African system was highly effective in the Border War conflict and enables the pilot to achieve off axis missile lock-on, by just looking at the target. This is one of the systems considered essential for future fighter aircraft, but was already operational (albeit as an early generation system) with the SAAF during the Border War conflict in the late-80s. A sophisticated navigation and attack system with in-flight update capability is used on the aircraft. Modern avionics complete the high tech upgrade with modern instrumentation and the use of MFDs. The systems were constantly refined and updated over the years. Some publications state individual systems as fitted to the aircraft, but as the SAAF never officially acknowledged the use of these systems; the articles must be viewed as mere speculation. The SAAF did state that in terms of the Cheetah C, the radar, navigation/attack systems and avionics are more capable than the systems as fitted to current F16s!

EW suite:

Apart from the impressive avionics, the aircraft is fitted with one of the most sophisticated EW suites ever fitted to any generation of fighter aircraft. Even more remarkable all the systems are housed internally (Cheetah is actually a small aircraft) and not carried in an external pod, which obviates the carrying of ordnance and/or upsets the centre of gravity. An internal fitment offers the added advantage that the systems are always available, no matter what type of mission the aircraft is flying. The systems have the capability of jamming. But the SAAF remains tight lipped on these systems and no exact details are available. The EW suite makes the Cheetah a formidable opponent.

In Flight Refuelling:

The first modern SAAF aircraft with in-flight refuelling capability was the Buccaneer, followed by the Mirage F1AZ. As the Southern African region is quite extensive, the use of in-flight refuelling became crucial to the SAAF's operational success. As the Buccaneer was the only aircraft capable of carrying an in-flight refuelling system the need for new aircraft for this role became extremely important. SA acquired the first of five Boeing 707-320s in 1986 as part of another highly secret "black" project. These aircraft were modified to be used as aerial tankers and EW platforms. More info see the Boeing Knowledge Base. At the time, the SAAF was only the fourth air force with its own aerial tanker fleet. As this capability extended the SAAF's area of operations, in flight refuelling was considered essential for all Cheetah aircraft and all Cheetah aircraft are fitted with fixed refuelling probes, with the exception of the single Cheetah "R". A new pressure refuelling system is also fitted to enable very short turnaround times between missions.

The Cheetah name:

All these elements resulted in a complete new aircraft, which is not a Kfir. So a new name was needed to distinguish what was essentially a new type of aircraft. There are two views on why the name "Cheetah" was selected, although South Africa renamed most SAAF aircraft with names of indigenous wild animals. The more common view is the name was selected due to the gallant efforts of 2 Sqdn in the Korean and other theatres of operations during WW II where they became known as the "Flying Cheetahs". The Cheetah is part of the Sqn's badge and this sqdn was for many years a premier air defence sqdn, equipped with the Mirage III CZ. But the new Cheetah aircraft, at first, did not enter service with 2 Sqdn! Rather odd, not to equip a sqdn with a new aircraft if the name had it's origin from the particular sqdn. Another view was expressed in an SABC documentary on the SAAF's contribution to wildlife conservation. AFB Hoedspruit is surrounded by a number of private game farms and lodges. Due to the remote location this AFB is located in an area that features a number of wild animals. These animals proved to be a big hassle for aircraft on take-off and landing. In addition to the safety aspect the loss of an aircraft was to be kept to a minimum. At first the problem animals were hunted down, but with such a vast area, it was not the ultimate solution as the SAAF realised such methods disturbed the ecological balance. The SAAF introduced the cheetah conservation project with the cooperation of the Kapama Cheetah Research Institute. This project introduced cheetah wild animals into the air base perimeter. The SAAF also assisted in field studies of these animals and gathered a vast database of research material on this fascinating predator. This cheetah project was extremely successful and kept the wild animals away from the air base and so reduced accidents to a very low minimum. In view of this animal's contribution to operational flight safety it was decided that it would be only fitting to use this animal's name for the next aircraft operational with the SAAF. Today, cheetah animals may still be found around Hoedspruit and Makhado (Louis Trichardt), but the SAAF's involvement is on a limited scale and opted to let these animals roam free on the vast areas around the air bases. The Cheetah is an endangered specie.