Dassault Mirage 5P
Dassault Aviation · France · first flew 1967 · fighter
The Mirage 5P is the Mirage 5 variant acquired by Pakistan, progressively upgraded through the 5PA, 5PA2 and 5PA3 sub-variants to carry the Agave radar and Exocet anti-ship missile, with surviving aircraft later rebuilt under the ROSE programme.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, delta |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turbojet, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 15.55 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Baseline 5P has flat conical nose — no Cyrano radar — same profile as all radarless Mirage 5 variants
- 5PA2/5PA3 sub-variants fitted with Agave radar nose or Exocet wiring are distinguishable by changed nose profile
- ROSE-upgrade aircraft have conformal fuel tanks on the spine — a completely different dorsal silhouette
Baseline 5P is visually identical to other Mirage 5 single-seaters. The 5PA2 Agave radar nose has a slight bulge compared with the plain cone. ROSE-upgraded aircraft often carry a distinctive spine fairing for avionics, and the cockpit glass shows a modern wide-angle HUD post.
Specifications
- The Dassault Mirage 5P has a length of 15.55 m (51 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 8.22 m (27 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 2350 km/h (1460 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Pakistan ordered 28 Mirage 5PA aircraft in the early 1970s, with French deliveries beginning in 1973–74. The PAF became one of the most prolific Mirage 5 operators, eventually acquiring more than 90 aircraft of several marks including 5PA2 (Agave radar for Exocet), 5PA3 (enhanced Exocet wiring) and two-seat 5DPA trainers. From 1997 surviving aircraft were upgraded under the ROSE (Retrofit of Strike Element) programme with new mission computers, INS/GPS and an HUD.
Variants
5PA (baseline), 5PA2 (Agave/Exocet), 5PA3, 5DPA (two-seat). ROSE I/II/III are upgrade standards applied across fleet.
Where you'll see it
Pakistan Air Force; large fleet maintained combat readiness well into the 2000s. The ROSE aircraft effectively extended service life by two decades.
Related aircraft
- Dassault Mirage 5
- Dassault Mirage 5F
- Dassault Hirondelle
- Dassault Mirage F1
- Aermacchi / CAC MB-326H
- BAC Jet Provost T.5
- BAC Strikemaster
- Dassault Mirage IIID
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