Originally envisaged as a privately funded project for a possible future NATO-fighter, the Dassault Mirage F.1 evolved into one of the most aesthetically attractive and commercially most successful combat aircraft of the 1970s and 1980s.Developed into more than a dozen of different variants and sub-variants ¿ each of them custom-tailored to requirements of air forces that flew it ¿ it also became a type that saw intensive combat service in numerous wars on no less than three different [...] became the biggest export customer for Mirage F.1. One way or the other, the Iraqi Air Force significantly contributed ¿ and financed ¿ the further development of this type, but also influenced research and development of a number of further systems that followed in its wake ¿ most of which eventually found their way into operational service in [...] the Mirage F.1 has attracted at least some coverage in English language publications, its acquisition and combat deployment by Iraq still remains a topic with not a few controversies. The purpose of this volume is to redress the balance and provide an in-depth insight into the acquisition process, development and equipment of custom-tailored variants made for Iraq, training of Iraqi personnel on the type, and its combat deployment during wars against Iran, 1980-1988, and against the US-led, so-called Gulf Coalition, in 1991 and afterwards.Originally envisaged and acquired as a ¿pure¿ interceptor, before long the Mirage F.1 in Iraqi service proved a highly capable multi-role platform aircraft, and was widely deployed not only for ground attack but also anti-shipping purposes, as an aerial tanker, and for delivering long-range pin-point attacks.Illustrated with over 120 photographs and many colour profiles, this book provides a unique, single point of reference on camouflage, markings, and armament configurations of Mirage F.1s in Iraqi service.
Originally envisaged as a privately funded project for a possible future NATO-fighter, the Dassault Mirage F.1 evolved into one of the most aesthetically attractive and commercially most successful combat aircraft of the 1970s and 1980s.Developed into more than a dozen of different variants and sub-variants ¿ each of them custom-tailored to requirements of air forces that flew it ¿ it also became a type that saw intensive combat service in numerous wars on no less than three different [...] became the biggest export customer for Mirage F.1. One way or the other, the Iraqi Air Force significantly contributed ¿ and financed ¿ the further development of this type, but also influenced research and development of a number of further systems that followed in its wake ¿ most of which eventually found their way into operational service in [...] the Mirage F.1 has attracted at least some coverage in English language publications, its acquisition and combat deployment by Iraq still remains a topic with not a few controversies. The purpose of this volume is to redress the balance and provide an in-depth insight into the acquisition process, development and equipment of custom-tailored variants made for Iraq, training of Iraqi personnel on the type, and its combat deployment during wars against Iran, 1980-1988, and against the US-led, so-called Gulf Coalition, in 1991 and afterwards.Originally envisaged and acquired as a ¿pure¿ interceptor, before long the Mirage F.1 in Iraqi service proved a highly capable multi-role platform aircraft, and was widely deployed not only for ground attack but also anti-shipping purposes, as an aerial tanker, and for delivering long-range pin-point attacks.Illustrated with over 120 photographs and many colour profiles, this book provides a unique, single point of reference on camouflage, markings, and armament configurations of Mirage F.1s in Iraqi service.
