IAI Dagger clean
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The IAI Dagger was an Argentine multi-role supersonic fighter aircraft, derived from the Israeli IAI Nesher, which itself was an unlicensed copy of the French Dassault Mirage 5. Argentina acquired 39 of these aircraft from Israel starting in 1978 to modernize its fleet.
Combat History: The Falklands War (1982)
The Dagger played a prominent role in the 1982 conflict between Argentina and the United Kingdom:
- Operations: Flying from mainland bases like Puerto San Julián and Río Grande, Daggers conducted 153 sorties against the British fleet.
- Naval Attacks: They were responsible for damaging several British warships, including HMS Antrim, HMS Brilliant, HMS Broadsword, and HMS Ardent.
- Limitations: The aircraft lacked aerial refueling capabilities, leaving pilots with only 3 to 5 minutes of combat time over the islands before needing to return to the mainland.
- Losses: Eleven Daggers were lost during the war—nine shot down by British Sea Harriers using AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles and two by surface-to-air missiles.
Evolution: The Finger Program
After the war, surviving Daggers underwent a significant modernization program known as Finger:
- Upgrades: The program added new avionics, a Head-Up Display (HUD), and improved navigation and attack systems.
- Embargo Challenges: Following an arms embargo by the UK, British-made components (like Marconi systems) had to be replaced with French-built Thomson-CSF electronics.
- Retirement: The Dagger/Finger fleet remained in service for decades until the Argentine Air Force officially retired its final "Mirage" family aircraft in November 2015.
