The South African Air Force (SAAF) flew both the Mirage F1 AZ ground-attack version as well as the radar-equipped Mirage F1 CZ fighter during the Angola Border War. The first two examples of the first order (48 aircraft, comprising 32 F1AZ and 16 F1CZ) were delivered on 5 April 1975. Both of these F1CZs were transported under a blanket of secrecy by a SAAF C-130 Hercules. In July of the same year, the remainder of the F1CZs were delivered, and 3 Squadron was re-commissioned to operate the aircraft from AFB Waterkloof.
