Mirage F1---About the gunpods loadout of the centerline pylon

[super_skyflash]

Hello everyone!

I've encountered a dumb question. Recently, I discovered that the Mirage F1 can carry two CC-420 30mm DEFA gun pods on its centerline fuselage hardpoint using a peculiar Y-shaped pylon. Related videos and images are shown below. Additionally, an official Dassault promotional brochure mentions that the Mirage F1 can carry two gun pods on the centerline as an additional loadout option. However, it appears that no documentation shows the Mirage F1 carrying a single gun pod on the centerline using a conventional carrying method.

This is quite strange because generally speaking, aircraft such as the Mirage 2000, Kfir, and Phantom typically carry only one gun pod on the centerline station. Yet the Mirage F1 seems not appear to have a single gun pod centerline configuration, but instead features this unusual Y-shaped pylon setup for carrying two pods, which is somewhat unique.

Therefore, I would like to ask everyone: Are there any photographs showing the Mirage F1 with a single CC-420 gun pod carried on the centerline? Or any manual/documentation that demonstrates the Mirage F1's capability to carry just one gun pod on the fuselage centerline? Thank you all very much.

The photo of real plane are captured from this video:

https://imgur.com/eIjFKF0

View: https://imgur.com/eIjFKF0

 

[H_K]

Are there any photographs showing the Mirage F1 with a single CC-420 gun pod carried on the centerline? Or any manual/documentation that demonstrates the Mirage F1's capability to carry just one gun pod on the fuselage centerline?

I couldn't find any pictures but there are multiple references in Spanish articles and forums about their F1BE two-seaters carrying a single CC-420 gun pod on the centerline for gunnery training.

For example here:
Revista Defensa nº 214, February 1996
https://www.defensa.com/ayer-noticia/los-mirage-f1-de-los-llanos

The six two-seater F1BEs (CE. 14-26 to CE. 14-31) were delivered between November 1980 and November 1981, corresponding chronologically to the third batch. In these aircraft, the second cockpit increases the length by 30 cm, decreasing fuel capacity by 450 liters. The internal armament (two DEFA 553 cannons with 135 rounds each) has been removed, and instead, the Dassault CC-20 pod with a 30 mm DEFA cannon and 180 rounds can be carried under the wings or fuselage.

 

[super_skyflash]

I couldn't find any pictures but there are multiple references in Spanish articles and forums about their F1BE two-seaters carrying a single CC-420 gun pod on the centerline for gunnery training.

For example here:
Revista Defensa nº 214, February 1996
https://www.defensa.com/ayer-noticia/los-mirage-f1-de-los-llanos

Thanks for your reply! This article mentions that Spain had planned to equip their Mirage F1s with Super 530F missiles. However, I have not been able to find photographs or documentation showing Spanish Mirage F1s equipped with 530F missiles. Did Spain ever actually import Super 530F missiles? From what I recall, the countries that imported Super 530F missiles were primarily from the Middle East and South America, such as Iraq and Ecuador.

For air-to-air missions, they are equipped with AIM-9N Sidewinder short-range infrared-guided missiles, which will soon be replaced by the AIM-9JULI, an all-around improved version. The acquisition of Matra Super 530F-1 medium-range semi-active radar-guided missiles is also planned (a capability lost by the F1s when the Matra 530E missiles were retired in 1987), ...,Thus, a configuration currently limited to two Sidewinders at the wingtips could also include two Super 530s beneath them.

 

[H_K]

This article mentions that Spain had planned to equip their Mirage F1s with Super 530F missiles. However, I have not been able to find photographs or documentation showing Spanish Mirage F1s equipped with 530F missiles. Did Spain ever actually import Super 530F missiles? From what I recall, the countries that imported Super 530F missiles were primarily from the Middle East and South America, such as Iraq and Ecuador.

Apparently the contract for the 13 ex-Qatari Mirage F1EDA/DDAs included Qatar's stock of 40 Super 530F. The last EDAs were scheduled to be transferred from Qatar to Spain in 1997, and perhaps the missiles were transferred at the same time, which would explain the reference (in 1996) to future plans for Super 530Fs.
Source below:
https://www.defensa.com/ayer-noticia/verano-94-llegan-manises-nuevos-mirage
There's also an F1EDA gate guard on display at Albacete airbase that has a Super 530F underwing, which implies that the transfer did in fact occur.

 

[H_K]

This page confirms the transfer of Qatar’s 40 Super 530F missiles and flight simulator by Spanish C-130s. The missile must not have stayed in Spanish service very long since the F1EDAs were not modernized to F1M standard and were retired in 2003.

https://www.oocities.org/base_manises/f1_03.html

 

[super_skyflash]

This page confirms the transfer of Qatar’s 40 Super 530F missiles and flight simulator by Spanish C-130s. The missile must not have stayed in Spanish service very long since the F1EDAs were not modernized to F1M standard and were retired in 2003.

https://www.oocities.org/base_manises/f1_03.html

Thanks for your photo and links！

 

[Archibald]

Four DEFA guns (two internal, two in pods) now that the kind of firepower the israelis would have appreciated... without the 1968 embargo.

 

[H_K]

Four DEFA guns (two internal, two in pods) now that the kind of firepower the israelis would have appreciated... without the 1968 embargo.

I can't imagine why anyone would prefer 2x DEFA external gun pods over 68mm SNEB rocket launchers?

My personal favorite attack configuration was with 2x CEM-1 launchers underwing each with 18x 68mm rockets + one of the following loadouts... but not sure it ever went into service?
- 6 BAP100/BAT120
- 2 Durandals
- 59x 74mm anti armor grenades

 

[Archibald]

Because Israel demolished hundreds of arab planes with the DEFA guns ? when rockets tended to fall short or miss the targets.

 

[MadRat]

So with the centerline guns they could use Matra TK-500 underwing 500L fuel tanks that had four 250 kg bombs. Or maybe instead each wing carry a Matra JL-100 which combined 268L fuel tanks and rocket pods each containing 18 of the 68 mm FFAR rockets. Either one would have gone well with twin gun pack.

 

[H_K]

So with the centerline guns they could use Matra TK-500 underwing 500L fuel tanks that had four 250 kg bombs. Or maybe instead each wing carry a Matra JL-100 which combined 268L fuel tanks and rocket pods each containing 18 of the 68 mm FFAR rockets. Either one would have gone well with twin gun pack.

Lots of options indeed.

The issue with hanging bombs off a fuel tank was the excess drag, both before and after release (the ejectors were very draggy once extended). That is probably why Dassault ultimately went with the CLB8 low-drag launcher for South Africa's Mirage F1s... shaping the pylon to reduce the drag of the bombs and ejectors should produce better results than carrying an extra 500L fuel.

For airfield interdiction operations (similar to Israel's operation Moked) I really like the CEM-1 configuration as that allowed the pilot to launch 12x BAP100s to crater the runway on the first pass, then loop around for a second pass with 36x 68mm rockets against the hardstand and dispersal areas. Ideally with jammers and lots of chaff & flares against radar guided AAA and portable SAMs!

 

[GizzoJegsaa]

https://far-maroc.forumpro.fr/t7p400-fra-photos-mirage-f1

 

[Amir69]

Please, what kid of pod is under this Spanish Air Force Mirage F-1 ?

 

[H_K]

Please, what kid of pod is under this Spanish Air Force Mirage F-1 ?

SUU-20 practice bomb dispenser with 4x 70mm rockets and 6x practice bombs.

 

[Amir69]

T

SUU-20 practice bomb dispenser with 4x 70mm rockets and 6x practice bombs

Thank you very much, really....