The 43 years of the Mirages in the Argentine Air Force
From the birth of a legend to its retirement without replacement
In the mid-1960s, the Argentine Air Force (FAA) operated subsonic Gloster Meteor F.Mk-IV fighters and transonic North American F-86F Sabres, along with the veteran Avro Lancaster and Avro Lincoln bombers. Aware of the need to modernize its fleet, the FAA evaluated several options, including the supersonic Mirage III fighter from the French company Avions Marcel Dassault-Breguet Aviation (AMD-BA), and the subsonic American Douglas A-4B Skyhawk fighter-bomber.
The A-4B Skyhawk was ultimately selected to replace the Lancaster and Lincoln bombers, with an order of 49 units. As for the fighters, the licensed production of 100 supersonic interceptors was considered, but due to budget constraints, the project was abandoned in 1967 and negotiations began with AMD-BA for the acquisition of Mirage IIIE/D aircraft. However, the lack of funding also prevented this initial purchase.
At that time, the FAA operated around 20 Gloster Meteors in Morón and 25 F-86F Sabres in Mendoza, without missiles or onboard radar, relying instead on ground-based radars from the Grupo I de Vigilancia Aérea Escuela (GIVAE). Faced with the urgent need to replace the Meteors, several alternatives were considered, including the F-100 Super Sabre, the F-104 Starfighter, the English Electric Lightning, the Saab J-35 Draken, the F-5A Freedom Fighter, the McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom II, and the Mirage IIIE. Ultimately, the Mirage IIIE stood out as the best option due to its performance, availability, and operating cost.
The arrival of the Mirage IIIEA and the consolidation of supersonic power
In April 1965, a French delegation arrived in Buenos Aires with a formal proposal. In Latin America, countries such as Peru, Venezuela, Colombia, and Brazil were also interested in the Mirage. The decisive performance of the Israeli Mirage IIIC during the Six-Day War in 1967 ultimately tipped the balance in its favor.
In 1968, under the presidency of General Juan Carlos Onganía, negotiations began with Dassault. On July 14, 1970, the government of General Roberto Levingston signed contract M-III/70, approved by Decree 1710/70, for the purchase of 12 Mirage IIIEA (single-seat) and 2 Mirage IIIDA (two-seat) aircraft, at a total cost of 28 million dollars. An additional 21 million dollars was allocated for infrastructure and logistics.
The showgirl Isabel Martínez, President Perón, and nearby the despicable minister López Rega.
Training and Delivery
The first group of Argentine pilots was sent to France in 1971, where they trained at the Dijon/Longvic Air Base, flying French Mirage IIIBE aircraft. At the same time, a delegation traveled to Israel to study the combat use of the Mirage IIIC in the Heyl Ha'Avir (Israeli Air Force).
On January 10, 1973, test pilot Gérald Resal carried out the first flight of an Argentine Mirage III. On January 17, Vice Commodore Alcides Giosa became the first Argentine pilot to fly a Mirage solo, accompanied by Captain Enrique Román in a two-seat Mirage IIIDA.
The delivery of the aircraft was carried out in stages, transported by C-130 Hercules planes and assembled in Argentina with the assistance of French technicians. On May 31, 1973, a Mirage III squadron flew over the I Air Brigade in El Palomar, officially marking their entry into service.
In 1974, the FAA intensified its flights and developed advanced air-to-air combat tactics. The high level of training was demonstrated in 1975, when the unit received the "Flight Safety" award granted by the U.S. Air Force.
On January 5, 1976, the strategic importance of the Mirage led to the creation of the VIII Air Brigade in José C. Paz. In 1977, Argentina acquired 7 additional Mirage IIIEA aircraft, which were delivered between December 1979 and July 1980. In 1981, 2 Mirage IIIDA aircraft formerly operated by the Armée de l'Air were added to the fleet, arriving in 1982.
Malvinas War: Baptism by Fire
On April 2, 1982, the FAA had 17 Mirage IIIEA/DA aircraft and 36 Daggers (the Israeli version of the Mirage 5). The Mirage IIIEAs were deployed to Río Gallegos and Comodoro Rivadavia, where they faced British Sea Harrier FRS.1 jets.
On May 1, the Mirage aircraft carried out escort and combat missions. In an air duel, Captain García Cuerva (I-019) and First Lieutenant Perona (I-015) were attacked by AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles. Perona managed to eject, but García Cuerva attempted to land in Puerto Argentino and was shot down by friendly fire.
Throughout the war, the Mirage aircraft carried out 47 escort missions and 9 diversion missions. Lacking in-flight refueling capability, their time over the battlefield was very limited. Despite this, they contributed to the FAA's overall success by supporting A-4B Skyhawk and Canberra attacks against the British fleet.
The Post-Malvinas Era and Modernization
After the conflict, the FAA acquired 22 Israeli Mirage IIICJ/BJ aircraft in 1982, which entered service in 1984. In 1989, the Peruvian Mirage 5P aircraft were upgraded to the "Mara" standard, featuring improvements in radar and electronic defense systems.
On March 7, 1988, the VIII Air Brigade was disbanded, and the Mirage III aircraft were transferred to the VI Air Brigade in Tandil, operating alongside the Dagger/Finger jets in Fighter Group 6. They took part in joint exercises with the U.S. Air Force and in operations such as "Fortín," which focused on defending the airspace over northern Argentina.
The End of an Era
By 2015, only 7 Mirage aircraft remained operational. On November 29, the FAA officially retired the Mirage weapons system, leaving the country without supersonic fighters for the first time in its history.
In total, the FAA operated 94 Mirage aircraft:
- 19 Mirage IIIEA
- 4 Mirage IIIDA/BE
- 35 Dagger A
- 4 Dagger B
- 10 Mirage 5P/Mara
- 19 Mirage IIICJ
- 3 Mirage IIIBJ
Over 43 years of service, the Mirage fleet logged 131,000 flight hours, with 13 combat losses and 28 accidents.
Today, Argentina is still awaiting a replacement that meets its air defense needs, while the legacy of the Mirages remains intact in the memory of those who operated them with pride and bravery.
To conclude, and to preempt any controversy, it is worth making a clear clarification regarding the Israeli Mirage IIICJ/BJ aircraft. The transaction was carried out by the FAA through the company Isrex Argentina S.A., and the aircraft were acquired during the war; the payment was made via Credit Suisse to an offshore shell company linked to IAI. However, the aircraft only became available for delivery in November 1982, by which time the war had ended, the FAA command had changed, and the justifications for accepting the aircraft—despite their age and poor condition—were no longer valid.
The entire operation was left in limbo, partly due to non-compliance on the Israeli side, and partly because Argentina no longer wanted the aircraft. Nevertheless, neither Isrex Argentina S.A. nor IAI were willing to return the funds already paid. As a result, the Alfonsín administration inherited the agreement from the military regime and, in 1984, ordered the delivery of the aircraft.
All of the aircraft were delivered to the FAA in 1984 and entered service starting in 1985, as they were gradually refurbished at the Río IV Materiel Area. This refurbishment process is what led to both the Mirage IIIC and B models—known as "Shahak"—receiving the suffix "J" (for Judío, meaning "Jewish") to highlight their origin and modification. Officially, they were reclassified as IIICJ and B models as BJ, a designation the Argentine Air Force never actually used.
This mirrored what happened with the first Skyhawks acquired by Argentina, which were designated A-4P due to the upgrades performed prior to their delivery. However, the FAA continued to refer to them as A-4B. For comparison, the A-4Bs delivered to the Navy were redesignated A-4Q after being refurbished, and unlike the FAA, the Argentine Navy did adopt and use the new designation.
To close the matter, here is the official Israeli serial number list of all the aircraft that were later operated by Argentina under its own serial numbers:
- CJ-2 (the one marked with the "Jew" symbol) = C-701 in FAA
- CJ-4 = C-702
- CJ-12 = C-703
- CJ-14 = C-704
- CJ-20 = C-705
- CJ-22 = C-706
- CJ-29 = C-707
- CJ-31 = C-708
- CJ-32 = C-709
- CJ-33 = C-710
- CJ-34 = C-711
- CJ-40 = C-712
- CJ-42 = C-713
- CJ-47 = C-714
- CJ-59 = C-715
- CJ-64 = C-716
- CJ-65 = C-717
- CJ-66 = C-718
- CJ-67 = C-719
- BJ-1 = C-720
- BJ-2 = C-721
- BJ-4 = C-722
There was one additional aircraft, known as number 23, though it is unclear whether it was a CJ or BJ. Due to its poor condition, only usable parts were salvaged—though it remains uncertain whether this was done in Israel (Palestina) or in Córdoba. The aircraft never entered service and does not appear in the FAA’s official active roster. A similar case applies to the A-4M and TA-4J aircraft acquired by Argentina, which were used as sources of spare parts for operational units or as training material for FAA students.
Lastly, the Mirage IIIC—specifically the CJ, C-713—was sold back to the Israelis for the symbolic price of 1 U.S. dollar. Today, it is preserved in an Israeli museum, restored with its original operational number and prefix: CJ-42, which was its original serial designation.
In total, the Argentine Air Force acquired and operated 94 supersonic delta fighter-bombers, including Mirage IIIEA/DA, Dagger/Finger A/B, Mirage 5P/Mara, and Mirage IIICJ/BJ aircraft. These comprised:
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83 single-seat aircraft:
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19 Mirage IIIEA
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35 Dagger A
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19 Mirage IIICJ
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10 Mirage 5P/Mara
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11 two-seat aircraft:
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2 Mirage IIIDA
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2 Mirage IIIBE/DA
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4 Dagger B
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3 Mirage IIIBJ
At its peak, Argentina operated 77 to 78 supersonic delta aircraft simultaneously, making it the country with the largest and most powerful Mirage fleet in Latin America.
Obtaining a reliable record of Mirage aircraft losses in the Argentine Air Force (FAA) is a difficult task, with gaps and inconsistencies in official information. However, based on available data up to 2007 and later confirmed incidents, a partial but detailed reconstruction is as follows:
Combat Losses (Malvinas/Falklands War – 1982)
Accidents and Decommissioning up to 2007
Mirage IIIEA
IAI Dagger / Finger
Mirage 5P / Mara
Mirage IIICJ / BJ
Post-2007 Losses
Summary of Known Losses and Final Status
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13 aircraft lost in combat
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At least 28 aircraft lost in accidents
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53 aircraft retired/deactivated due to age, obsolescence, or lack of spare parts
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Total: 94 Mirage-family aircraft operated
Operational Status by 2015
By late 2015:
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25 Mirage fighters remained on the FAA inventory (variants: Mirage IIIEA/DA, Finger A/B, Mara)
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Only 7 aircraft were truly operational
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On November 29, 2015, the Mirage weapon system was officially retired without replacement, marking:
The first time in Argentine history the country was left without a supersonic air defense capability.
This situation remains unchanged as of today, nearly three years later, without any serious political, institutional, or legal accountability. No strategic action has been taken to restore national air defense capability. The four interceptor squadrons that once belonged to the Nation and the Argentine People have been dissolved, with no recovery effort from successive governments.
This represents a critical and unresolved national security failure, leaving Argentina vulnerable and symbolically disarmed in terms of sovereign airspace protection.
🛩️ Mirage IIIDA / IIIBE (two-seat aircraft)
| Aircraft | Origin / Notes | Fate |
|---|
| I-001 | Built 01-04-1972; arrived 05-09-1972 aboard C-130 TC-63; first flight 10-01-1973 | Crashed 30-03-1979 near Derqui during a training flight; both crew members ejected successfully |
| I-002 | Built 01-05-1972; arrived 05-02-1973 aboard C-130 TC-65; first flight 10-01-1973 | Crashed in 1991, repaired in 1997 |
| I-020 | Ex-French Mirage IIIBE, upgraded to DA; delivered Dec 1982 | Destroyed in accident on 06-05-1994 |
| I-021 | Ex-French Mirage IIIBE, upgraded to DA; delivered Jan 1983 | In service |
🛩️ Mirage IIIEA (single-seat aircraft)
| Aircraft | Notes | Fate |
|---|
| I-003 | Built 23-09-1972; arrived 23-09-1972 aboard C-130 TC-62; first flight 10-01-1973 | In service |
| I-004 | Built 01-11-1972; arrived 01-11-1972 aboard C-130 TC-61 | In service |
| I-005 | Built 18-03-1973 | In service |
| I-006 | Built 18-03-1973; arrived 18-03-1973 aboard C-130 TC-66 | Special paint scheme in 1997 for 25th anniversary |
| I-007 | Built 13-04-1973; arrived 13-04-1973 aboard C-130 TC-63 | In service |
| I-008 | Built 05-05-1973; arrived 05-05-1973 aboard C-130 TC-66 | In service |
| I-009 | Built 20-05-1973; arrived 20-05-1973 aboard C-130 TC-66 | Crashed 23-03-1976; pilot ejected successfully |
| I-010 | Built 29-06-1973; arrived 29-06-1973 aboard C-130 TC-66 | In service |
| I-011 | Built 17-07-1973; arrived 17-07-1973 aboard C-130 TC-66 | In service |
| I-012 | Built 27-07-1973; arrived 27-07-1973 aboard C-130 TC-65 | Later decommissioned |
| I-013 | Built Oct 1979; arrived Nov 1979 | Crashed 01-05-1997 during FAA Baptism of Fire celebration; pilot Lt. Marcos Peretti killed |
| I-014 | Built Oct 1979 | Crashed 25-08-1987 in Entre Ríos; pilot Capt. Juan Carlos Franchini Allasia killed |
| I-015 | Built Oct 1979 | Shot down on 01-05-1982 over Borbón Island by Sea Harrier XZ-452 (Flt Lt Barton); pilot 1st Lt. Perona ejected |
| I-016 | Built Nov 1979 | Accident on 08-10-1983 in Río Gallegos; deemed irreparable, used for spares |
| I-017 | Built Dec 1979 | Used postwar for AIM-9M Sidewinder missile integration |
| I-018 | Built Jan 1980 | In service |
| I-019 | Built Jan 1980 | Shot down 01-05-1982 over Borbón Island by Sea Harrier XZ-453 (Lt Thomas); Capt. García Cuerva attempted emergency landing, killed by friendly fire near Puerto Argentino |
| I-020 | Already listed above under IIIDA |
|
This list illustrates the detailed operational history and fate of each Mirage IIIEA/DA in FAA service, including:
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Combat losses (notably I-015 and I-019 during the Malvinas War)
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Accidents with fatalities (e.g., I-013, I-014)
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Units converted from French Air Force aircraft (e.g., I-020, I-021)
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Unique roles or commemorative paint schemes (e.g., I-006, I-017)
General Characteristics – Mirage IIIEA
Manufacturer: Avions Marcel Dassault
Type: Air Defense Interceptor
Dimensions
Propulsion
Performance
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Maximum speed: 2,217 km/h (Mach 2.1) at 12,200 meters
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Service ceiling: 17,000 meters
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Maximum range: 2,800 km
Avionics
Armament
Let me know if you’d like technical specs for the Dagger/Finger, Mara, or IIICJ/BJ variants as well.
