Dassault's successor to the Mirage III dispensed with the traditional delta layout and adopted a more conventional configuration. The resulting Mirage F1 has 40 per cent more internal fuel in a smaller airframe, a much shorter field length, three times the supersonic endurance, twice the tactical radius at low levels and all-round better maneuverability.
The prototype F1 first flew in 1966. The F1C all-weather interceptor reached l'Armee de l'Air units in 1973, and when production ended in 1992, some 762 aircraft of all versions had been built.
F1 variants follow a similar designation system applied to earlier Mirage IIIs and include the F1A simplified for day attack, F1B and F1D dual-control trainers, multi-role Mirage F1E, F1CR multi-sensor reconnaissance platform and F1C-200 with fixed IFR probe. The arrival of the Mirage 2000 saw the conversion of surplus F1C airframes to F1CT standard as tactical fighter-bombers.
The F1 was exported widely and has seen extensive combat with the majority of its operators; conflicts have included the Persian Gulf tanker war (during which Iraq's Exocet-armed F1EQs attacked oil tankers in international waters), South Africa's externals into neighboring countries and Desert Storm.
The F1 remained in widespread service in 2001. France operates two squadrons each of F1CRs and F1CTs, a conversion unit equipped with trainers and a small detachment of F1C interceptors for the defense of Djibouti. Other operators comprise Greece, Iraq, Jordar, Kuwait, Libya, Morocco, and Spain. Jordan's elderly F1CJ/EJs are being replaced by F-16s. Iraq was the largest export customer, acquiring 108 F1EQs to various standards. The remaining significant operator is Spain, whose force of F1CE/F1EEs has been augmented by 12 ex-Qatari F1EDA/DDAs.
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