The South African Air Force (SAAF) flew both the Mirage F1AZ ground-attack version as well as the radar-equipped Mirage F1CZ fighter.
The first two examples of the first order (48 aircraft, comprising 32 F1AZ and 16 F1CZ) were delivered on 5 April 1975.
In July of the same year, the remainder of the F1CZs were delivered and 3 Squadron was recommissioned to operate the aircraft from AFB Waterkloof.
In 1975 the F1CZs also appeared at a South African airshow, the public were not informed that it was already in service.
The SAAF retired the F1CZs in 1992, followed by the F1AZs in 1997.

The F1AZ was developed in conjunction with Dassault and the SAAF as a dedicated ground attack variant.
The F1AZs were delivered between November 1975 and October 1976 and were assigned to 1 Squadron.
Paramount Group, a South African-based company owns the intellectual property for the Mirage F1AZ.
The F1AZ has a laser-based rangefinder, permitting the highly accurate fusing and aiming of unguided munitions, such as bombs and rockets.
Optical design was by the Optics (later ELOPTRO) division of Armscor in South Africa.
Despite their retirement in 1997, the accuracy of the F1AZ's armament delivery is still considered classified information by the SAAF; analysis by informed news services (e.g., Jane's Defence Weekly) and pilot reports (e.g., Commandant Dick Lord, 'Vlamgat', 1999) conclude that the F1AZ has accuracies within the order disclosed by the USAF for their F-15E Strike Eagle in unguided ballistic mode.

In 2004, up to 21 F1AZs were reported in storage at AFB Hoedspruit, awaiting a possible buyer.
In April 2006, it was reported that Aerosud had purchased the surviving Mirage F1AZs and spares.

South Africa granted Aerosud a contract to fit the Dassault Mirage F1 with the Klimov RD-33 engine used in the MiG-29 fighter.
Although overtaken by the decision of the South African Air Force to buy the SAAB JAS 39 Gripen, the upgraded fighter was technically very successful.

On 17 August 2006, French news agency Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported that two upgraded ex-South African F1AZs had taken part in a fly-past over Libreville earlier that day in celebration of Gabon's independence day.
The refurbishment and upgrade of the aircraft was carried out by Aerosud.
Aerosud Group managing director Dr. Paul Potgieter confirmed his company's involvement, but declined to give numbers or cite figures.

The F1AZ features an integrated ground-attack system, comprising two on-board computers that can identify targets at a distance of 5 km.
A laser range finder, situated below its conical nose, is connected to the computers to provide them with target info without emitting radar signals.
After target identification and information gathering, bombs are automatically released at the right moment.
While the range-finding ability of the EMD AIDA 2 radar permits the use of combat and visual interception missiles, the helmet-mounted sight element enables the pilot to make bore attacks, without waiting until achieving an optimum firing position.
The F1AZ is equipped with two internal DEFA 30mm cannons with 125 rounds each, and carries a wide variety of external ordnance, including various types of bombs, cluster munitions, missiles, and rocket launchers.
The South African Air Force (SAAF) flew both the Mirage F1AZ ground-attack version as well as the radar-equipped Mirage F1CZ fighter. The first two examples of the first order (48 aircraft, comprising 32 F1AZ and 16 F1CZ) were delivered on 5 April 1975. In July of the same year, the remainder of the F1CZs were delivered and 3 Squadron was recommissioned to operate the aircraft from AFB Waterkloof. In 1975 the F1CZs also appeared at a South African airshow, the public were not informed that it was already in service. The SAAF retired the F1CZs in 1992, followed by the F1AZs in 1997.
The F1AZ was developed in conjunction with Dassault and the SAAF as a dedicated ground attack variant. The F1AZs were delivered between November 1975 and October 1976 and were assigned to 1 Squadron. Paramount Group, a South African-based company owns the intellectual property for the Mirage F1AZ. The F1AZ has a laser-based rangefinder, permitting the highly accurate fusing and aiming of unguided munitions, such as bombs and rockets. Optical design was by the Optics (later ELOPTRO) division of Armscor in South Africa. Despite their retirement in 1997, the accuracy of the F1AZ's armament delivery is still considered classified information by the SAAF; analysis by informed news services (e.g., Jane's Defence Weekly) and pilot reports (e.g., Commandant Dick Lord, 'Vlamgat', 1999) conclude that the F1AZ has accuracies within the order disclosed by the USAF for their F-15E Strike Eagle in unguided ballistic mode.
In 2004, up to 21 F1AZs were reported in storage at AFB Hoedspruit, awaiting a possible buyer. In April 2006, it was reported that Aerosud had purchased the surviving Mirage F1AZs and spares.
South Africa granted Aerosud a contract to fit the Dassault Mirage F1 with the Klimov RD-33 engine used in the MiG-29 fighter. Although overtaken by the decision of the South African Air Force to buy the SAAB JAS 39 Gripen, the upgraded fighter was technically very successful.
On 17 August 2006, French news agency Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported that two upgraded ex-South African F1AZs had taken part in a fly-past over Libreville earlier that day in celebration of Gabon's independence day. The refurbishment and upgrade of the aircraft was carried out by Aerosud. Aerosud Group managing director Dr. Paul Potgieter confirmed his company's involvement, but declined to give numbers or cite figures.
The F1AZ features an integrated ground-attack system, comprising two on-board computers that can identify targets at a distance of 5 km. A laser range finder, situated below its conical nose, is connected to the computers to provide them with target info without emitting radar signals. After target identification and information gathering, bombs are automatically released at the right moment. While the range-finding ability of the EMD AIDA 2 radar permits the use of combat and visual interception missiles, the helmet-mounted sight element enables the pilot to make bore attacks, without waiting until achieving an optimum firing position. The F1AZ is equipped with two internal DEFA 30mm cannons with 125 rounds each, and carries a wide variety of external ordnance, including various types of bombs, cluster munitions, missiles, and rocket launchers.
Dassault Mirage F1