The Mirage 5BA was a fighter-bomber aircraft designed for the Belgian Air Force. The aircraft was produced for the French Air Force and for export. The first letter in the version designation indicated the purchasing country.
The Mirage 5 was a further development of the excellent Mirage III fighter aircraft with its characteristic “delta” wing shape. In the second half of the 1960s, the Mirage 5 was developed on a special order from Israel for a fighter-bomber. It was to be based entirely on the Mirage III fighter design, but with simplified aiming equipment (no onboard radar gunsight). This was to make it a less labour-intensive and cheaper aircraft to operate, maintain and service, while retaining many important combat capabilities. The elimination of most of the equipment allowed for increased internal fuel tank capacity and thus greater range.
The aircraft prototype was first flown in May 1967. However, the French government’s arms embargo on Israel, announced after the so-called Six-Day War in June 1967, stood in the way of Israeli plans. The first aircraft produced in 1970, originally intended for Israel, were taken over by the French Air Force.
Of the more than 400 examples built, the majority were exported. The aircraft was produced in three versions: fighter-bomber, reconnaissance and training-combat. Many of these aircraft subsequently underwent modernisation, with aerodynamic improvements and new electronic aiming and navigation systems installed.
The Mirage III and 5 aircraft were one of the milestones in the development of aviation technology. They brilliantly combined modern aerodynamics with excellent performance and superb manoeuvrability. They were a formidable opponent in aerial combat. They became an export hit and a symbol of France.
The aircraft in the Museum’s collection served in the Belgian Air Force. It is a Mirage 5BA (fighter-bomber), one of 63 examples that were in service with that country. In addition to these aircraft, there were also 27 in the reconnaissance version (BR) and 16 training-combat (BD) variants. Belgium, alongside Libya, was the largest operator of this aircraft.
| Wingspan | 8.22 m |
| Length | 15.55 m |
| Takeoff weight | 13700 kg |
| Maximum speed | 1912 km/h |
| Ceiling | 17000 m |
| Range | 2400 km |
| Armament | two DEFA 552 cannons, 30 mm calibre, 4 tonnes of ordnance or additional fuel tanks carried on 5 hardpoints under the wings and fuselage |
| Engine | single-spool turbojet SNECMA Atar 9C with 58.9 kN thrust with afterburner |
