Mirage F1CT
This page is about the French jet fighter Mirage F1CT. For other versions, see Mirage F1 (Family). |
Contents
Description
In July 1984, the new Mirage 2000 was starting to enter service with the French Air Force to replace the Mirage F-1C-200s in the frontline fighter role. As a result, the French Air Force was now left with a lot of leftover Mirage F1Cs to mothball, and in 1988 a program was launched to convert these F1Cs into a frontline ground attack aircraft to replace the ancient Mirage IIIEs and few Mirage 5s used by France in that role at the time. The Mirage F1CT program brought the avionics of the F1C up to the standard of the F1CR (reconnaissance variant), with the radar upgraded to the Cyrano IVM-R standard, adding a plethora of new air-to-ground modes for ground attack. In addition, an improved navigation/attack system outfitted with a laser rangefinder was installed under the nose for low-altitude interdiction, navigation, and the delivery of laser guided ordnance. The defensive suite was also overhauled with a new RWR, enlarged chaff/flare dispensers for SEAD missions, and modernized communication systems were also added. As a result, the Mirage F1CT also gained the ability to carry a variety of air-to-ground weapons, including rockets, cluster bombs and laser-guided bombs, all while retaining the original air-to-air armament of the F-1C fighter variant.
Introduced in Update "Danger Zone", the Mirage F1CT acts as the best Mirage F1 variant for air-to-air combat, despite being in the attacker line in the tech tree. This is due to having the better RWR system of all the Mirage F1s. The F1CT can also perform better at air-to-ground than the other models in-game, due to the larger bomb load, allowing it to carry more freefall ordnance. All in all, the F1CT acts as a nice sidegrade to the Mirage F1s in the other parts of the tree, or for people who want a Mirage F1 quickly, a more easily acquirable one from the shorter attacker line rather than the fighter line which the Mirage F1C is found in.
General info
Flight performance
Characteristics | Max Speed (km/h at 12,000 m) |
Max altitude (metres) |
Turn time (seconds) |
Rate of climb (metres/second) |
Take-off run (metres) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AB | RB | AB | RB | AB | RB | |||
Stock | 2,156 | 2,118 | 16000 | 28.3 | 28.8 | 128.6 | 122.6 | 750 |
Upgraded | 2,300 | 2,228 | 26.2 | 27.0 | 183.9 | 155.0 |
Details
Features | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Combat flaps | Take-off flaps | Landing flaps | Air brakes | Arrestor gear | Drogue chute |
✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | X | ✓ |
Limits | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wings (km/h) | Gear (km/h) | Flaps (km/h) | Max Static G | |||
Combat | Take-off | Landing | + | - | ||
1,457 | 444 | 575 | 549 | 416 | ~11 | ~5 |
Optimal velocities (km/h) | |||
---|---|---|---|
Ailerons | Rudder | Elevators | Radiator |
< 650 | < 800 | < 900 | - |
Engine performance
Engine | Aircraft mass | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Engine name | Number | Basic mass | Wing loading (full fuel) | ||||
SNECMA Atar 9K-50 | 1 | 8,036 kg | 458 kg/m2 | ||||
Engine characteristics | Mass with fuel (no weapons load) | Max Gross Weight | |||||
Weight (each) | Type | 13m fuel | 20m fuel | 30m fuel | 44m fuel | ||
1,590 kg | Afterburning axial-flow turbojet | 9,058 kg | 9,581 kg | 10,354 kg | 11,443 kg | 16,635 kg | |
Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB/SB) | Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (WEP) | ||||||
Condition | 100% | WEP | 13m fuel | 20m fuel | 30m fuel | 44m fuel | MGW |
Stationary | 4,890 kgf | 6,801 kgf | 0.75 | 0.71 | 0.66 | 0.59 | 0.41 |
Optimal | 5,917 kgf (1,200 - 1,400 km/h) |
9,875 kgf (1,200 km/h) |
1.09 | 1.03 | 0.95 | 0.86 | 0.59 |
Survivability and armour
Examine the survivability of the aircraft. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured, etc. Describe the armour, if there is any, and also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.
Modifications and economy
Armaments
Ballistic Computer | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
CCIP (Guns) | CCIP (Rockets) | CCIP (Bombs) | CCRP (Bombs) | EEGS |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Offensive armament
The Mirage F1CT is armed with:
- 1 x 30 mm DEFA 553 cannon, belly-mounted (135 rpg)
- 48 x large calibre countermeasures
- 144 x countermeasures
Suspended armament
The Mirage F1CT can be outfitted with the following ordnance:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
500 lb SAMP Mk 82 bombs | 1 | 1, 2 | 1, 4 | 1, 2 | 1 | |||
250 kg SAMP Type 25 bombs | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||
250 kg SAMP Type 25 200 bombs | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||
400 kg SAMP Type 21 bombs | 1 | 1 | 1, 4 | 1 | 1 | |||
400 kg SAMP Type 21 200 bombs | 1 | 1 | 1, 4 | 1 | 1 | |||
1,000 lb SAMP Mk 83 bombs | 1 | 1 | 1, 2 | 1 | 1 | |||
2,000 lb SAMP Mk 84 bombs | 1 | 1, 2 | 1 | |||||
SNEB type 23 rockets | 18, 36 | 18, 36 | 18, 36 | 18, 36 | ||||
Matra R530 missiles | 1 | 1 | ||||||
Matra R530E missiles | 1 | 1 | ||||||
Matra R550 Magic 2 missiles | 1 | 1 | ||||||
Matra Super 530F missiles | 1 | 1 | ||||||
1,200 l drop tanks | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||||
Maximum permissible weight imbalance: 950 kg |
Default weapon presets | |
---|---|
|
Usage in battles
Describe the tactics of playing in the aircraft, the features of using aircraft in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but instead, give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Stock Magic 2 missiles
- Super 530F missiles
- Great manoeuvrability
- 252 countermeasures
Cons:
- Only one DEFA 553 cannon
History
The Mirage F1, a product of Dassault Aviation's innovation in the 1960s, emerged as a versatile and robust aircraft, complementing the capabilities of the delta-winged Mirage III. Opting for a traditional swept wing design, the Mirage F1 showcased improved range and performance at low altitudes, making its maiden flight in 1966. The aircraft was engineered for simplicity and ruggedness, able to conduct both air-to-air and ground-attack missions with efficiency.
The Mirage F1's combat debut occurred in the mid-1970s during the Western Sahara War, where French support was provided to Mauritania and Morocco against the Polisario Front rebels. The aircraft's versatility was further highlighted in the 1980s during the Chad-Libya conflict, where the French Air Force utilized it in ground-attack operations.
The Mirage F1 also played a significant role in the Iran-Iraq War of the 1980s, being extensively employed by the Iraqi Air Force. It demonstrated its capabilities in both air-to-air combat and ground-attack missions, with Iraqi pilots claiming air-to-air victories against Iranian aircraft. However, the Gulf War in 1991 presented a challenging scenario for the Iraqi Mirage F1s, as they faced the overwhelming air superiority of the Coalition forces.
The Balkans conflict in the 1990s saw the Mirage F1s of the French Air Force in action once again, conducting reconnaissance and ground-attack missions. It was around this time that the need for a dedicated ground-attack variant became apparent, leading to the development of the Mirage F1CT. This variant was equipped with updated avionics and weapon systems tailored for ground-attack roles, and it participated in NATO operations over the former Yugoslavia.
By the dawn of the 21st century, the Mirage F1 was gradually phased out of frontline service in the French Air Force, with more advanced aircraft like the Rafale taking its place. Nevertheless, the aircraft found new life in other countries and in the private sector, where some were utilized as aggressor aircraft for training purposes. The Mirage F1's extensive service record across various global conflicts stands as a testament to its adaptability and enduring capabilities.
Media
- Skins
See also
- Related development
External links
Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:
- topic on the official game forum;
- other literature.
Dassault Aviation | |
---|---|
WW2* | |
Fighters | M.B.152C1 · M.B.157 |
Bombers | M.B.162 · M.B.174A-3 · M.B.175T |
Jet Aircraft | |
M.D 450 | M.D.450B Barougan · M.D.450B Ouragan |
Mystère | M.D.452 IIA · M.D.452 IIC · Mystere IVA |
Super Mystère | Super Mystere B2 |
Étendard | Etendard IVM |
Super Étendard | Super Etendard |
Alpha Jet | Alpha Jet E** |
Mirage | |
Mirage III | Mirage IIIC · Mirage IIIE · Milan |
Mirage V | Mirage 5F |
Mirage F1 | Mirage F1C · Mirage F1C-200 · Mirage F1CT |
Mirage 2000 | Mirage 2000-5F · Mirage 2000C-S4 · Mirage 2000C-S5 · Mirage 2000D-R1 |
Mirage 4000 | Mirage 4000 |
Export | |
M.D 450 | M.D.450B Ouragan |
Mystere | Mystere IVA |
Super Mystère | Sambad · Sa'ar*** |
Mirage | Shahak · ▄Mirage 5BA |
*The company was named "Société des Avions Marcel Bloch" before being renamed in 1947 | |
**Jointly manufactured with Dornier Flugzeugwerke | |
***Israeli Super Mystère refitted with new avionics and an American engine | |
See also | SABCA |
France jet aircraft | |
---|---|
Fighters | M.D.450B Ouragan · M.D.450B Barougan · M.D.452 IIA · M.D.452 IIC · Mystere IVA · Super Mystere B2 |
▄F-86K · ▄F-100D · ▄F-8E(FN) | |
Mirage IIIC · Mirage IIIE · Milan · Mirage 5F · Mirage 2000C-S4 · Mirage 2000C-S5 · Mirage 2000-5F · Mirage 4000 | |
Mirage F1C · Mirage F1C-200 · Mirage F1CT | |
Strike aircraft | ▄F-84F · F-84F IAF · ▄F-84G-26-RE |
Etendard IVM · Super Etendard · Alpha Jet E | |
Jaguar A · Jaguar E · Mirage 2000D-R1 | |
Bombers | S.O.4050 Vautour IIA · Vautour IIA IDF/AF · S.O.4050 Vautour IIB · S.O.4050 Vautour IIN · S.O.4050 Vautour IIN (late) |
Belgium | ▄Meteor F Mk.8 · ▄Mirage 5BA · ▄F-104G · ▄F-16A · ▄F-16AM |
Netherlands | ◘Hunter F.6 |