An Atlas Cheetah-C of the South African Air Force.
The Atlas Cheetah is a South African fighter aircraft, developed for the South African Air Force (SAAF) and currently operated by the Ecuadorian Air Force (FAE). It was developed as a major upgrade of the Dassault Mirage III by the Atlas Aircraft Corporation (later Denel Aviation) in South Africa and is based on the IAI Kfir.
Three different variants were created, the single seat Cheetah-C, dual seat Cheetah-D, and the single seat Cheetah-E.
The Cheetah Es were retired in 1992, and the Cheetah Cs and Cheetah Ds in April 2008, being replaced by the Saab Gripen C/D. A limited number are still operated in South Africa as flight test aircraft.
