ADF-SERIALS
Australian & New Zealand Military Aircraft Serials & History

ex-RAAF Mirages in Pakistan Air Force Service

ex-RAAF Mirage in PAF service photo album

After their retirement from service in 1987/88 forty eight RAAF Mirages were flown to Woomera for storage. They were offered for sale for A$100 million. On 15th April 1990 a contract was signed with Pakistan for fifty aircraft including ground equipment, engines, drop tanks and spares. (Pakistan Air Force project Blue Flash-V) The figure reported here was A$36 million however a number of Pakistani sources state the figure was A$27 million with the payment spread over seven years at approx. A$3.5 million per year. The ground equipment and spares package has been described as "a virtual gift".
It should be mentioned that India was not at all happy with this deal and protested accordingly.

During October 1990 the Mirages were transported by road from Woomera to Whyalla. Two complete aircraft at RAAF Museum Point Cook (A3-13 and A3-84) were also transported as well as five incomplete examples from Darwin, Orchard Hills and Dubbo. In November 1990 they were shipped by sea from Whyalla to Karachi. From Karachi harbour they were transported on trailers to PAF Base Masroor. After some dismantling they were flown by C-130 Hercules to the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex at Kamra. There at the Mirage Rebuild Factory it was discovered that these ex-RAAF Mirages were in far better condition than expected and some did not require a complete overhaul. A new 2P+ inspection was developed for the initial recovery of thirty three aircraft. Another twelve aircraft had the General Overhaul and were eventually bought into service, some fitted with zero timed wings sourced from South Africa.
Of the fifty complete ex-RAAF Mirages acquired forty five eventually entered PAF service (details below). The remaining five were used for spares.

Thirty two single seat aircraft were later upgraded to ROSE 1 (Retrofit of Strike Element) the last one completed in June 1998. This avionics upgrade included Sagem integrated navigation/attack system, multifunction display,  HOTAS, HUD, and self protection systems (RWR, chaff and flares).
Further upgrades include Grifo-M radar and AIM-9L AAMs.
(Sources differ as to if 32 or 33 received the ROSE 1 upgrade. I believe that only 32 received the upgrade because one aircraft crashed before it could be upgraded).
The ROSE 1 Mirages (redesignated in PAF service as Mirage IIIEA) were allocated to No.7 Squadron (Bandits) at Masroor in 1996 and to the Combat Commanders School (CCS) at Mushaf in 2003

Seven dual seat aircraft (redesignated in PAF service as Mirage IIIDA) were allocated to No.22 Squadron OCU and No.5 Squadron (Falcons).
In June 2010 No.5 Squadron re-equipped with F-16s, (new build aircraft, not the aircraft that New Zealand was to buy which also went to Pakistan).
Any surviving IIIDA serve with No.15 Squadron (Cobras) at PAF Base Rafiqui, Shorkot.

The PAF also acquired the RAAF Mirage Photo Reconnaissance equipment and four aircraft configured in this role served with No.5 Squadron (Falcons)

In 2004 and 2007 Pakistan acquired 50 Mirages and 150 sealed engines from Libya.
These aircraft were to be converted to components to extend the life of the PAF Mirage fleet including the ex-RAAF examples.
However as with the ex-RAAF many Libyan Mirages are flying again.

In 2009 the Mirage IIIEAs started to be equipped with an in-flight refuelling probe, 90-583 serving as the prototype. PAF acquired four Ilyushin Il-78P Midas tanker aircraft from Ukraine and plan to equip 30 Mirages for in-flight  refuelling .

In 2016 the upgraded Mirage IIIEAs began flying with Ra'ad Air Launched Cruise Missiles which are believed to be capable of carrying a nuclear warhead

There have been many losses of PAF Mirages. The list isn't all that specific about which model was involved. Only two are confirmed as ex-RAAF with only one identified. There are probably others lost. (Indeed 90-610  ex-A3-110 was lost in March 2015 and has not yet been included on the list)

With the Pakistan being the world's largest current user of Mirages (200+ aircraft purchased from France, Australia, Lebanon, Spain and Libya), holding an extensive spare parts inventory and operating a dedicated Mirage Rebuild Factory the ex RAAF Dassault and GAF built Mirages look like they will still be flying well past their 50th birthdays. A PAF official said that a Mirage needs to undergo overhaul after every ten to twelve years or after every 1800 to 2400 flight hours. A Mirage is completely overhauled in about one year.
They are expected to remain in PAF service until replaced by the JF-17 Thunder in 5 to 10 years time
 

SUMMARY

50 complete aircraft exported by sea, (48 from Whyalla, South Australia and 2 from Geelong, Victoria)

40 single seat Mirage IIIO stored at Woomera
A3-2, -5, -6, -9, -10, -11, -12, -15, -17, -19, -21, -22, -23, -24, -25, -27, -31, -33, -34, -35,
-38, -39, -49, -53, -54, -56, -60, -62, -65, -68, -71, -73, -81, -83, -86, -87, -88, -93, -96, -99

8 dual seat Mirage IIID stored at Woomera
A3-101, -103, -104, -108, -110, -111, -112, -113. 7 into service, 1 used for spares.

Plus 2 complete single seat Mirage IIIO taken from RAAF Museum Point Cook A3-13, -84 where moved by road and then shipped by sea from Geelong, Victoria.

32 eventually upgraded to ROSE 1 standard, 1 crashed prior to ROSE 1 upgrade. 4 Photo Recon. conversions, 5 used for spares.

Also 5 incomplete aircraft/fuselages; A3-7 (Darwin), -48, -78 (Dubbo), -57, -91 (Orchard Hills)

Pakistan Air Force serials.
Single seat; 90-5xx, were xx is the last two digits of the RAAF serial.
(I have been informed some may have had 89-5xx but have seen no evidence of that myself)

Dual seat; 90-6xx were xx was the last two digits of the RAAF serial
(Not to be confused with the six dual seat Mirages with 8xx serials. These are ex-French Air Force IIIBEs. Their full PAF serial is 96-8xx were the xx is the last two digits of the construction number ie 96-860 is c/n 260, 96-875 is c/n 275 and so on.)
 

As can be appreciated PAF information is scarce and the following list is derived from publicly available information.
Any further information, corrections and comments are welcome.
Please contact us at question@adf-serials.com.au

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