Dassault Mirage 50
Dassault Aviation · France · first flew 1979 · fighter
The Mirage 50 is an upgraded Mirage 5 variant powered by the SNECMA Atar 9K-50 engine, offering approximately 16% more thrust than the 9C-engined Mirage 5 and substantially improved takeoff and climb performance.
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:
- Mirage 5 airframe mated with the more powerful Atar 9K-50 engine — same basic planform but measurably better performance
- Some aircraft carry Cyrano IV radar in a bulged nose, blurring the Mirage III/5 visual distinction
- Engine bay cowling profile differs slightly to accommodate wider 9K-50 turbine casing
Standard Mirage 50 is outwardly similar to the Mirage 5 but may carry a Cyrano IV bulged radar nose, which then resembles the Mirage IIIE at first glance. Engine cowling is the only reliable external distinguisher on un-radared examples. Upgraded 50CNs are immediately identifiable by fixed canard foreplanes.
Specifications
- The Dassault Mirage 50 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
Dassault proposed the Mirage 50 as a more capable successor to the Mirage 5, flying the prototype in April 1979. Chile became the launch customer, acquiring 16 Mirage 50Cs and 2 Mirage 50DCs (two-seat). Venezuela took 6 Mirage 50Vs. The aircraft served in Chile's Fuerza Aérea until the late 1990s, some receiving further Mirage 50CN upgrades with Israeli Elta radar and canard foreplanes.
Variants
Mirage 50C (single-seat, Chile), 50DC (two-seat, Chile), 50V (Venezuela), 50CN (Chilean upgrade with canards and Elta radar — visually very different from baseline).
Where you'll see it
Chile and Venezuela operated the Mirage 50. The Chilean CN-upgrade aircraft gained small delta canard foreplanes ahead of the wing root, creating a visually distinctive canard-delta appearance.
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