Mirage IIIE

Mirage IIIE

Mirage IIIC

Mirage F1C

Mirage IIIE

Mirage IIIC

Mirage F1C

France

VII Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
10.7	10.7	11.0

Class:

Fighter

Jet fighter

Research:150 000

Purchase:830 000

Description

The Mirage IIIE is a rank VII French jet fighter with a battle rating of 10.7 (AB/RB) and 11.0 (SB). It was introduced in Update "Ixwa Strike". Contrary to it's older sibling, the Mirage IIIC, the Mirage IIIE represents a (successful) attempt to integrate air-to-ground capabilities into the Mirage III line of aircraft. This capabilities are achieved by the addition of a ballistic computer to aid in the destruction of ground assets with guns, bombs, and rockets. The aircraft also receives numerous improvements, such as a new version of the Atar 9 engine, which not only slightly more powerfull, but also much more responsive. A RWR system and a countermeasure dispenser is also installed on the type.

General info

Flight performance

Air brakes

Allows you to dramatically reduce the flight speed by releasing special flaps

Drogue parachute

Reduces braking distance when landing on any runway

Max speed

at 12 000 m2 160 km/h

Turn time28 s

Max altitude16 000 m

EngineSNECMA Atar 9C

Type

Cooling systemAir

Take-off weight11 t

Overall, the Mirage IIIE is flown like the Mirage IIIC. The key feature of the Mirage airframe is it's delta wing. Delta winged aircraft present tremendous manoeuvrability, at the cost of energy bleeding. The Mirage is no exception. While capable of supersonic flight, even at low altitude, and loaded with it's air-to-air armament, high-G manoeuvres provokes as much deceleration as using a giant airbrake. This is, in fact, what a delta wing becomes, under high incidence angle, due to it's very high vortex lift.

In general, the Mirage IIIE is nimble and fast, but it lacks the engine power of it's contemporaries, such as the Mig-21 Bis or the F-104 series. Getting up to speed, or regaining it will be a bit longer. A trade-of for the mirage IIIE maneuvrability.

Characteristics	Max Speed (km/h at 12,000 m)		Max altitude (metres)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (metres/second)		Take-off run (metres)
	AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
Stock	2,092	2,053	16000	29.8	30.5	111.6	100.4	750
Upgraded	___	___		__._	__._	__._	__._

Details

Features
Combat flaps	Take-off flaps	Landing flaps	Air brakes	Arrestor gear	Drogue chute
X	X	X	✓	X	✓

Limits
Wings (km/h)	Gear (km/h)	Flaps (km/h)			Max Static G
		Combat	Take-off	Landing	+	-
0	426	N/A	N/A	N/A	~__	~__

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< ___	< ___	< ___	N/A

Survivability and armour

Flares/Chaff

Aircraft countermeasures to distract IR and radar-guided missiles and also AA radar

Crew1 person

Speed of destruction

Structural0 km/h

Gear426 km/h

Being a very light aircraft, the Mirage IIIE does not bear any sort of armour. It is to be noted that it has a very fragile rudder, which is mandatory to fly. Even as little as losing it's moving actuator is enough to make the Mirage IIIE uncontrolable. The wings, being built upon titanium longerons, are quite sturdy and can sometimes survive hits of the lighest caliber guns (ADEN/DEFA/GAU-13), but not two.

The lack of armour on the Mirage can be compensated by the very small size of the aircraft.

Modifications and economy

The entirety of the AA missile armament of the Mirage IIIE is stacked in a single line. The AIM-9B missile will be of moderate help. The Matra 530 will be of better efficiency.

The Mirage IIIE being the end of the Dassaut line-up, each components are pricy in experience, costing up to 32 000 exp for the 4th tier.

Armaments

The Mirage IIIE comes with a pair of DEFA 552A canons, with 125 round per gun, for 250 rounds total. These guns output a moderate shell velocity (but high rate of fire), but the DEFA shells are extremely destructive, and can blow a wing off of even the sturdiest aircrafts, such as the F-4E phantom. The shells proposed in the AA belt composed only of HE, inciendiary, tracers. Overall the best pick of shells one could want for air-to-air combat. The ground targets belt can pierce moderate armour, and are nothing to write home about. They will shred APC's and IFV's, but not MBT's.

Suspended armament

The Mirage IIIE can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

• 2 x 30 mm DEFA 552A cannons (125 rpg = 250 total)
• 2 x 30 mm DEFA 552A cannons + 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles
• 2 x 30 mm DEFA 552A cannons + 1 x Matra R530E missile
• 2 x 30 mm DEFA 552A cannons + 1 x Matra R530 missile
• 2 x 30 mm DEFA 552A cannons + 2 x Matra R550 Magic 1 missiles
• 2 x 30 mm DEFA 552A cannons + 1 x Matra R530E missile + 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles
• 2 x 30 mm DEFA 552A cannons + 1 x Matra R530E missile + 2 x Matra R550 Magic 1 missiles
• 2 x 30 mm DEFA 552A cannons + 1 x Matra R530E missile + 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles + 36 x SNEB type 23 rockets
• 2 x 30 mm DEFA 552A cannons + 1 x Matra R530E missile + 2 x Matra R550 Magic 1 missiles + 36 x SNEB type 23 rockets
• 2 x 30 mm DEFA 552A cannons + 1 x Matra R530 missile + 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles
• 2 x 30 mm DEFA 552A cannons + 1 x Matra R530 missile + 2 x Matra R550 Magic 1 missiles
• 2 x 30 mm DEFA 552A cannons + 1 x Matra R530 missile + 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles + 36 x SNEB type 23 rockets
• 2 x 30 mm DEFA 552A cannons + 1 x Matra R530 missile + 2 x Matra R550 Magic 1 missiles + 36 x SNEB type 23 rockets
• 2 x 30 mm DEFA 552A cannons + 1 x AS-30 Nord missile + 36 x SNEB type 23 rockets
• 2 x 30 mm DEFA 552A cannons + 1 x AS-30 Nord missile + 72 x SNEB type 23 rockets
• 2 x 30 mm DEFA 552A cannons + 2 x 250 kg SAMP Type 25 bombs (500 kg total)
• 2 x 30 mm DEFA 552A cannons + 2 x 400 kg SAMP Type 21 bombs (800 kg total)
• 2 x 30 mm DEFA 552A cannons + 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles + 2 x 250 kg SAMP Type 25 bombs (500 kg total)
• 2 x 30 mm DEFA 552A cannons + 2 x Matra R550 Magic 1 missiles + 2 x 250 kg SAMP Type 25 bombs (500 kg total)
• 2 x 30 mm DEFA 552A cannons + 36 x SNEB type 23 rockets + 2 x 250 kg SAMP Type 25 bombs (500 kg total)
• 2 x 30 mm DEFA 552A cannons + 72 x SNEB type 23 rockets + 2 x 250 kg SAMP Type 25 bombs (500 kg total)
• 2 x 30 mm DEFA 552A cannons + 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles + 2 x 400 kg SAMP Type 21 bombs (800 kg total)
• 2 x 30 mm DEFA 552A cannons + 2 x Matra R550 Magic 1 missiles + 2 x 400 kg SAMP Type 21 bombs (800 kg total)
• 2 x 30 mm DEFA 552A cannons + 36 x SNEB type 23 rockets + 2 x 400 kg SAMP Type 21 bombs (800 kg total)
• 2 x 30 mm DEFA 552A cannons + 72 x SNEB type 23 rockets + 2 x 400 kg SAMP Type 21 bombs (800 kg total)
• 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles
• 2 x Matra R550 Magic 1 missiles

As for each aircraft of this level, the Mirage is as good as the missiles it carries. The AIM-9B is an IR seeker missile of the very first type. It pulls few Gs, cannot orientate it's seeker head and is very easily seduced by flares. Still, a some kills can be expected on unsuspecting enemies, or enemies engaged with another aircraft in a turnfight, and low on energy.

The Matra 530 is a radar guided, medium range missile. Only one can be carried, but it is one of (if it is not the) best SARH missile currently in game. As a counterpart, the Cyrano radar of the Mirage IIIE is quite small, with range rarely exceeding 20 Km. Inside this range, the missile has good range and maneuvrability on the entire flight time. A good addition the the Mirage IIIE arsenal. The SARH capability of the missile can be traded for the IR seeker of the Matra 530E, making it the biggest IR seeker of the game. This version does not require radar lock, but cannot be fired in front aspect, and can be seduced by flares, where the Cyrano radar guiding the 530 can only be disturbed by chaffs countermeasures, which are used much more rarely.

As a tier 4 AA armament, the Mirage IIIE receives the dreaded Matra 550 Magic. This IR seeking missile of second generation is an excellent weapon, being both extremely manoeuvrable (pulling 30Gs, sometimes more), very light and reactive, and quite resilient to flare seduction. Under two kilometers, and launched in right conditions at subsonic speeds, this missile is virtualy unescapable. It is to be noted that this missile, thanks to it's canted launch rail, can be launched under G load. It's only two drawbacks are it's short range, and it's limited number of units carried under the Mirage wings, with only two of the type. (as a comparative, the F-4 Phantom series can carry 4 IR missile, the Mig-21 series, 4 or 6, the J-35 Draken or F-104, 4 and 6).

As for ground attack, the Mirage III E carries the usual load of post-war french ordonance, in the form of 250/400 Kg SAMP bombs, SNEB HEAT rockets, and the AS.30 missile. The deployment of these weapons can be aided by the balistic computer.

The AS.30 missile is a MCLOS, AS.20 derived, heavy warhead HE missile. Only one can be carried, and it is quite hard to use, but the damage output on ground targets in mixed battles is enormous. It is not uncommon to score two kills with one missile.

Usage in battles

The Mirage IIIE is an improvement over the Mirage IIIC in nearly every aspect. It's delta wing permits high-G, speed bleeding manoeuvres, and should be sued to force an opponent to overshoot, and give it chase with missiles or guns.

The missile load of the Mirage III E is quite light, with only 3 missiles, all type counted, but the missiles are excellent, are should rarely miss. The addition of the flare dispenser is also of excellent help against the very dangerous IR seeking R-60 missile, which does not support well the saturation of it's target with flare, and will often be seduced away. Note that flares are mostly inefficient whet afterburner is on, and lighint it off for mere seconds can be the difference between life and death.

Overall, sticking close to the ground, at high speed, and making missile passes on opponents is a good way to reach victory. Dogfight should be engaged only if the target position is advantageous, and the Mirage IIIE cannot just bleed out of energy and re-accelerate away.

Footnote : The Mirage IIIE can be equiped with the SEPR 941 booster rocket if the guns are dismounted. This strategy is considered as to be avoided, because as of update 2.5, the loadouts permitting the removal of the guns are very restrictive. The booster gives an output of 1.5 extra ton of thrust, and can burnt for 105 seconds before running dry.

For ground attack, the Mirage IIIE is of moderate use. While it can still carry bombs. It is a fighter by essence. It is to be noted that the Mirage IIIE can carry it's entire AA armament, plus two air-to-ground weapons, on two extra hardpoints.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Excellent missile armament
• Slim airframe
• Powerfull canons
• Added multirole capability over the Mirage IIIC
• Flare/chaff dispenser, for 60 slots
• RWR equiped

Cons:

• Low missile count
• Moderate power engine
• Considered a priority target by enemies

History

Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the aircraft in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History) and add a link to it here using the main template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <ref></ref>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <references />. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under === In-game description ===, also if applicable).

Media

A Mirage IIIE, equiped with it's full anti-air armament, of two Magics and one Matra 530

Closeup view of the Mirage IIIE AA armament. Note the canted Magic launch rails, allowing fire under G stress

See also

• links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

• topic on the official game forum;
• other literature.