After the Second World War, the French Air Force (FAF) started to operate foreign combat aircraft exclusively, mainly of American origin. This led to it becoming dependent of other countries in the field, and it also caused a technological delay of its aeronautical industry. The War of Indochina showed to the French that its aeronautical industry should be developed again and produce aircraft of all types.

In the middle of the Fifties, Generale Avions Marcel Dassault - GAMD began studies for the development of a fighter aircraft in accordance to the requirements established by FAF. That aircraft would be the starting point for a family of successful fighters that would not only equip the FAF but would also enable France to once again become an important aircraft exporting country.

That first fighter light interceptor of GAMD was denominated Dassault MD-550 Mirage I. But this initial project went through several improvements, leading to the construction of the Mirage III first prototype, now equipped with a French SNECMA Atar 101G engine. That prototype made its initial flight on 18 November 1956.

The first aircraft series production Mirage III flew on 9 October 1960 and it served as a basis for the construction of the variant which would become the standard FAF day fighter interceptor.

There was already a requirement for a multi-role aircraft for the FAF. GAMD thus began studies on the necessary modifications that would be needed to transform the proven Mirage IIIC interceptor into an aircraft capable to perform not only interception but also ground-attack missions.

The Mirage IIIE first prototype made its first flight on 5 April 1961 and the first production-series aircraft was delivered to the FAF on 14 January 1964. The FAF placed an initial order for 188 Mirage IIIEs, to be used as a multi-rôle aircraft, including in the tactical nuclear weapons delivery missions.

With the extraordinary success reached, several countries became interested in the Mirage IIIE, some of them - South Africa, Australia, Israel and Switzerland. The two-seater variant was designated as the Mirage IIID . Mirage III versions Mirage 5 without radar and the ground attack version Mirage 50 were also produced for export purposes.