New images added Hobby Master HA9852 Mirage IIIS J-2334, Swiss Air Force
The Swiss Air Force operated the Mirage IIIS as a supersonic interceptor from the mid 1960s until its retirement in 1999. Based on the French Mirage III, the IIIS was modified for Swiss requirements with strengthened structure, improved radar, and the ability to operate from hardened mountain bases. Its primary mission was air defence, intercepting intruding aircraft over Swiss airspace during the Cold War. The Mirage IIIS was armed with air to air missiles and cannon, providing rapid reaction capability. It formed the backbone of Swiss air defence for decades before being replaced by the F/A-18 Hornet.
Dassault Mirage IIIS
Designed to meet a French government specification for a lightweight, all-weather interceptor, the Dassault Mirage III was first flown on November 17, 1956. This supersonic aircraft has a tailless delta wing configuration and is capable of high speeds (a Mirage IIIA was the first European aircraft to exceed Mach 2 in level flight). It has a provision for a SEPR liquid-fuel rocket engine, which provides additional burst thrust. In production for over a decade, the Mirage III is considered one of Europe’s most successful military aircraft designs, serving 20 different nations, some of whom still fly it today.
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