"Did Argentine Mirages use the R.530 in 1982?" Topic

The title says it all. If the Mirages were equipped with R.530s, would they have been used, anyway, considering range constraints?

The Air Force had them for the Falklands war but the Navy did not get them until after the Falklands War.

A little reference here:

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another here:

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I don't think the R.530s were used for the simple reason the radar in the Mirage was next to useless: it couldn't detect anything let alone lock-on to a target.

It was so bad the Israelis even removed the radar from their Mirages and replaced it with ballast (the original 'Blue Circle' radar).

In the Osprey book "Air War in the Falklands 1982", on page 45, there is a photo of a Mirage IIIEA from Grupo 8 with a single R.530E missile (apparently they could only carry a single missile). According to the caption, only one R530E was fired during the war, without success since it couldn't achieve an adequate radar lock.

One of the early engagements between the Sea Harriers and Mirages was believed to have been a missile one, with the Argies firing first.

Later, it was determined that they just dropped their tanks, and the spray from those appeared like an AAM launch to the British pilots.

Not sure when the R.530E was fired, so would be interested in more info about that.

The British pilots preferred to stay low, and the Argentines high, in order to accentuate each aircraft's performance envelope vs. those of their opponents.

As mentioned, the Argentine radar is pretty abysmal, especially with aircraft targets that need to be picked out against terrain below them.

A major problem with the Mirage III was that it barely had the legs to get to the Falklands, let alone fight. Consequently they were mainly used for decoy roles, escorting Herk tankers or other support aircraft closer to Argentina and air defence of the mainland (especially after Black Buck).

According Hobson's book Falklands Air War, on May 1, Sharky Ward and Lt. Watson were approached by two high flying Mirage IIIEAs, one of Grupo 8s Mirages was seen to fire a missile. This was said to be a Matra 530 fired by mistake without radar lock. The Mirages then turned away and headed for home. Mako, not sure if this is what you referred to regarding the dropping of tanks. If so, I'd be interested to see when they ultimately determined it wasn't a 530. Interesting stuff!

Thanks for the info, PAR.

Not sure, though I suspect given the date, and description, that is indeed the engagement in which the Brits thought the Argies had fired AAM(s) at them, but were really just dropping their external tanks.

The two Mirages were high, and the SHARs stayed low to make radar detection against them more difficult, and to minimize the Mirages' speed advantage over them.

Nothing really came of the engagement.

IIRC, also, there were another pair of Mirage IIIs, or Vs a bit behind the first pair too, though there was no engagement between them and the British fighters.

I've played this scenario out using Clash of Sabres, and it is indeed an interesting one.

Incidentally, there are other accounts of 530s being fired by Mirages. Thomas and Barton also reportedly faced a Matra 530 from a Mirage head on at 5 miles distance (page 124 of David Brown's The Royal Navy and The Falkland War). I believe this incident also occurred on May 1. Food for thought. Man o, can you point me to any sources regarding that dropped tank explanation, I'm very curious to read more of that.

I thought it was in Sharky's book (pretty sure about that), but could be wrong too.

Perhaps in the Falklands Air War book, or on on-line accounts of the battle.

I think the pilots later figured out that the launch plumes they saw were from the spray of fuel as the drop tanks were salvoed from the Mirages.

Much appreciated (somehow my auto correct butchered your nom de plume in my last posting). I have Sharky's book, read it ages ago, as I recall it was pretty darn good read. I think that is where I got my idea to paint 800 and 801 in different shades of grey. I will have to dust it off the shelf. Anyway, very interesting topic.