page_title: Project ROSE
hierarchical_section_title: Project ROSE
context_page_description: Project ROSE, was a program initiated by the Pakistan Air Force Pakistan Aeronautical Complex for the upgrades of the military avionics and electronics system of its aging Mirage III fighter jets, which had been built in either France or in Australia. The program focused on modernization of military avionics and on-board computer system of Mirage IIIE and the Mirage 5 supplied by Pakistani Margella Electronics, French SAGEM and the Italian SELEX consortiums, as part of the program.
  Conceived in 1992 by the Pakistan Air Force, the program started in 1995 on main considerations of retiring the A–5 Fantan from active service. The Pakistan Air Force which already was operating Dassalt Mirage-3s and Dassalt Mirage-5s began its procurement of second-hand Mirage fighters from Australia, Lebanon, Libya, and Spain at the price range within the MoD's fund. Over 90% of the aircraft were retrofitted at the Aeronautical Complex in Kamra; few were upgraded in France. From 1996–2000, several Mirage IIIE and Mirage 5 were bought from the other countries and were upgraded under this program at the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex.
context_section_description: Project ROSE (Retrofit Of Strike Element), was a program initiated by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Pakistan Aeronautical Complex for the upgrades of the military avionics and electronics system of its aging  Mirage III fighter jets, which had been built in either France (by Dassault Aviation) or in Australia (by Government Aircraft Factories). The program focused on modernization of military avionics and on-board computer system of Mirage IIIE and the Mirage 5 supplied by Pakistani Margella Electronics, French SAGEM and the Italian SELEX consortiums, as part of the program.
  Conceived in 1992 by the Pakistan Air Force, the program started in 1995 on main considerations of retiring the A–5 Fantan from active service. The Pakistan Air Force which already was operating Dassalt Mirage-3s and Dassalt Mirage-5s began its procurement of second-hand Mirage fighters from Australia, Lebanon, Libya, and Spain at the price range within the MoD's fund. Over 90% of the aircraft were retrofitted at the Aeronautical Complex in Kamra; few were upgraded in France. From 1996–2000, several Mirage IIIE and Mirage 5 were bought from the other countries and were upgraded under this program at the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex. In this project the avionics of the aircraft were increased, in-flight refueling was added, due to this the range and combat radius of the fighter jet was increased, new grifo fire control radars having about 75 km range were introduced which gave the aircraft capability to fire BVR missiles if needed, the metallurgy of aircraft was overhauled and service life was increased, the capability to do take off and landing from motorway was also added, after Rose-3 upgradation the locally manufactured standoff weapons like H-4 SOW bombs, H-2 SOW bombs, Takbir glide bomb , Stealth nuclear cruise missiles such as Ra'ad MK-1 and Ra'ad Mk-2 were added in the weapon package of the aircraft. Further considerations for upgrades were recommended but the program was terminated due to increasingly combined costs  of the spare parts and the conditions of the second–hand airframes of the Mirage IIIE and Mirage 5 at the time of their procurement from various countries.
  It is currently expected for all of ROSE upgraded Mirage fighters jets to be remain in the combat service with Pakistan Air Force beyond 2020 in specialized Tactical Attack roles. They are expected to be replaced by JF–17 Thunder ( Block-3 , Block-4 and Block-5 )  
  or additional F-16s or 5th generation stealth fighter coming out Project Azm; but there are no publicly confirmed timelines or details about any of these programs.
caption: A schematic drawing of a Mirage IIIC.
exif: {}