OVERVIEW: The Mirage 5BR is a single seat, single engine, medium-range, Mach 2.0, 2nd generation reconnaissance aircraft.    

DETAILS:   The Mirage 5 is based on the Mirage IIIE, with some avionics simplified or removed.  In exchange, it increased the number of hardpoint to seven and fuel capacity by 32% (500 liters),  but at a cost of an all-weather, multi-role capability.  The Mirage 5 is a delta wing design based on the Mirage III airframe but built an extended nose. Because of the delta wing design, the Mirage III suffered from several operational limitations. Because the Mirage wing could not incorporate flaps, it required a long runway for take-off and landing. The delta wing design meant that the Mirage bled energy in a turn, limiting its ACM performance.  It also suffered from buffeting at low altitude, due to the large wing area and resulting low wing loading.  However, the Mirage’s wing allowed it to achieve high speed in a straight line.  To maximize engine efficiency, the Mirage used two variable-section air inlets, each with a moveable half-cone shock cone, (called “mice”) to slow down airflow to the engines at high speed.
   
The Mirage 5 was powered by a SNECMA Atar 9c turbojet engine.  It produced 13,670 lb. (6200 kg) of thrust (afterburner), giving it a 0.743 Thrust-to-weight ratio under combat conditions.  This effectively limited its maneuverability to only 3-4 g's in sustained maneuvering.

 Because it is intended to act as a reconnaissance aircraft, the Mirage 5 BR  has no air-to-air radar or missiles.   Armament is limited to two 30 mm (1.181 in) DEFA 552 cannons with 125 rounds per gun.  As a reconnaissance aircraft, the Mirage 5BR  received a special nose which could incorporate a variety of cameras.


Specifications: 

Max Speed: 	1270 knts ; 2350 km/hr;  (Mach 2.2)
Max Range:	2,200 nm (ferry); 670 nm (combat radius)
Max Payload:	4,000 kg on 7 hardpoints
G-limit		6.7g's max load (subsonic)
Crew:		 1


NOTES: IOC:  1967.     


SOURCE:  
"[1.0] Mirage III, 5, & 50." AirVectors. Accessed April 11, 2023. https://www.airvectors.net/avmir3_1.html. ; 
"Dassault Mirage III/5." Aviation Classics. 2012. ; Gunston, Bill. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Fighters. 1981. ;  "Mirage 5: Origins, Characteristics and Performance Data." Dassault Aviation, a Major Player to Aeronautics. Last modified March 1, 2022. https://www.dassault-aviation.com/en/passion/aircraft/military-dassault-aircraft/mirage-5/. ; Roux, Élodie. Turbofan and Turbojet Engines: Database Handbook. Elodie Roux, 2007. ;Taylor, John W. Jane's All the World's Aircraft. 1980-81, pg. 57-58; "Dassault Mirage 5BR." Belgian Wings. Accessed April 29, 2023. https://www.belgian-wings.be/dassault-mirage-5br.


Original Author: François Guérin
