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Cheetah E

The second and third aircraft delivered to Atlas for conversion was Mirage III EZs for single seater conversion. It looks like the single and double seater conversion programs proceeded side by side. But the double seaters received a higher priority to get them operational in the shortest possible time. These aircraft received similar upgrades and conversions as applied to the Cheetah D. But the nose mounted strakes were mounted further forward than on the Cheetah D, a plug was fitted behind the nose section to house the electronic systems and the forward RWR was fitted further back than on the Cheetah D. The avionics and navigation / attack systems were optimised for single pilot use. The Cheetah E equipped the reformed 5 Sqdn at the newly constructed ultra modern airbase, AFB Louis Trichardt, close to the Zimbabwean border. The sqdn operated the E variant in both strike and air-air operations.

A minimum of two Cheetah E aircraft was on permanent standby to guard against an attack from the north. Standard armament for such operations were two V3B ( later two V3Cs) missiles and the use of two stream lined Mirage type auxiliary fuel tanks. Later, the V3C Darter air-air missile was optimised for use on the Cheetah aircraft and used as the primary air-air missile. The last of the Cheetah upgrades were all single seater aircraft. Not much is known about the Cheetah E while in service with the SAAF and photos are even more difficult to obtain. The Cheetah Es was retired when 5 Sqdn disbanded on 2 October 1992. All remaining aircraft were placed in flyable storage at AFB Pietersburg. A total of 16 Cheetah Es was converted and two were lost due to flying accidents. On a few occasions the remaining aircraft was offered for sale but the interested air force backed out of the deal at the last minute. Cheetah E 842 was the last E delivered and remained flying for systems testing. The aircraft was also painted in a nonstandard color scheme.

It was eventually transferred to the SAAF Museum Swartkop,where it received a repaint of the non standard color scheme and placed on static display. It is now one of the most frequent visited, exhibits on display. In all no 842 at SAAF Museum Swartkops is great PR by the SAAF, as the general public were denied real access to these aircraft while in service with the SAAF.