New images added Hobby Master HA9853 Mirage IIIRS R-2111, Staffel 10, Swiss Air Force, 2002
The Swiss Air Force operated the Mirage IIIRS as a dedicated reconnaissance variant of the Mirage III from the late 1960s until 2003. Equipped with advanced cameras and sensors in the nose, the IIIRS conducted high speed photo reconnaissance missions in support of national defence. The aircraft could operate in all weather conditions and from Switzerland’s hardened and dispersed air bases. Pilots flew low level and high speed profiles to gather intelligence across the country’s mountainous terrain. The Mirage IIIRS remained a key surveillance asset for decades before retirement, marking the end of Swiss Mirage reconnaissance operations.
Dassault Mirage IIIRS
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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