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ADF-SERIALS
Australian, New Zealand & Papua New Guinea
Military Aircraft Serials & History
This site is devoted to providing as complete a record as possible of aircraft operated by the ADF, NZDF & PNGDF.
Included where known are brief summaries of the history and current status of aircraft employed in Australian New Zealand & PNG Military Service.

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RAAF A3 Dassault / Government Aircraft Factory 

Mirage IIIO/D Fleet attrition and disposal

 

     
 

Mirage A3-36Crashed Darwin27th May 1985 Photo via Sid Mitchell

 
 
 

 

 

 

 
     
 
What happened to the 116 RAAF Mirages?

43.1% were exported
36.2% were lost
8.6% were scrapped or converted to components
12.1% were retained
100% see below for numbers and details

 

50 were exported to Pakistan; A3-2, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 31, 33, 34, 35, 38, 39, 49, 53, 54, 56, 60, 62, 65, 68, 71, 73, 81, 83, 84, 86, 87, 88, 93, 96, 99, 101, 103, 104, 108, 110, 111, 112 and 113.

42 were lost due to:
18 engine failure; A3-4, 14, 18, 28, 36, 46, 52, 67, 70, 74, 75, 79, 82, 94, 95, 97 and 98 (this includes A3-63 which suffered an on ground engine fire)
11 loss of control and impact with terrain or sea; A3-1, 32, 37, 40, 43, 50, 61, 77, 85, 89 and 109
6 undercarriage failure; A3-47, 58, 76, 80, 105 and 114
3 landing accident; A3-16, 26 and 64
3 lost after being involved in collision with another aircraft; A3-29, 30 and 69
1 tyre failure on take-off and subsequent transport fire A3-8

10 were scrapped or converted to components.
Of these 5 were scrapped; A3-66, 90, 106, 107 and 116. Another 5 incomplete aircraft were exported to Pakistan; A3-7, 48, 57, 78 and 91

14 were retained as museum or display aircraft; A3-3, 20, 41, 42, 44, 45, 51, 55, 59, 72, 92, 100, 102 and 115
Plus 2 aircraft that are included above as losses were later restored to static display standard; A3-16 and 36.

 

42 losses as a percentage of the total fleet of 116
18 engine failure 15.5%
11 loss of control and impact 9.48%
6 undercarriage malfunction 5.17%
3 landing accident 2.58%
3 collision with another aircraft 2.58%
1 tyre failure 0.86%
42 lost equals 36.2% of fleet

Individual causes as a percentage of the 42 aircraft lost
18 engine failure 42.85%
11 loss of control and impact 26.19%
6 undercarriage malfunction 14.3%
3 landing accident 7.14%
3 collision with another aircraft 7.14%
1 tyre failure 2.38%
42 equals 100% of losses

 

 
           
   
 

This page compiled by Martin Edwards

Heading photo RAAF.

Sources:

ADF-Serials Mirage page
ex-RAAF Mirages in Pakistan service
RAAF Mirage III Image Gallery
.

Converted to CMS 1st September 2025

Updated 23rd February 2017