Atlas Cheetah
Atlas Aircraft Corporation (Denel Aviation) · South Africa · first flew 1986 · fighter
The Atlas Cheetah is a South African upgrade of the Mirage III incorporating Israeli-influenced canard foreplanes, new radar, and modern avionics to produce an effective multirole combat aircraft under the apartheid-era UN arms embargo.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, delta |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turbojet, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 15.65 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Canard-delta single-engine fighter derived from Mirage III with prominent foreplanes added ahead of the wing
- Longer nose accommodating Israeli Elta radar and fixed refuelling probe
- Dogtooth leading-edge extensions and vortex generators on the modified delta wing
Distinguished from the unmodified Mirage III by the prominent canard foreplanes, the extended nose with refuelling probe, and the dogtoothed wing leading edge; superficially similar to the IAI Kfir but lacks the Kfir's rectangular NACA-style intake and J79 engine humps.
Specifications
- The Atlas Cheetah has a length of 15.65 m (51 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 8.22 m (27 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 2338 km/h (1453 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Facing a comprehensive arms embargo, South Africa collaborated covertly with Israel — whose IAI Kfir provided the engineering template — to upgrade its Mirage III fleet through Atlas Aircraft (later Denel). The Cheetah C single-seater and Cheetah D two-seat trainer entered service from 1987 onward, with an earlier Cheetah E reconnaissance variant derived from the Mirage IIIE preceding them. Upgrades added canards, a lengthened nose with doppler radar, strengthened airframe, and compatibility with the indigenous Darter air-to-air missile.
Variants
Cheetah C (single-seat multirole, primary combat variant), Cheetah D (two-seat operational trainer), and the earlier Cheetah E (single-seat strike/recon, retired by 1995).
Where you'll see it
Served with 2 Squadron SAAF from 1987 and formed the backbone of South Africa's fighter force until 2008, when budget constraints forced retirement of the entire fighter fleet; a number of surplus Cheetah Cs were acquired by Ecuador and flew briefly with the Fuerza Aerea Ecuatoriana.
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