Project ROSE (Retrofit Of Strike Element) was a programme initiated by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) in 1992 to modernise a number of its Dassault Mirage III and Mirage 5 fighter aircraft with new avionics, some of which were supplied by European companies including SAGEM of France and FIAR (now SELEX Galileo) of Italy. Most of the aircraft were retrofitted at the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) in Kamra, Pakistan, others being upgraded in France. Further upgrades were under consideration but Project ROSE was cancelled due to a combination of high costs and ageing Mirage III/5 airframes.
33 Mirage III fighters, designated ROSE I, were upgraded to perform multiple mission types including air superiority and strike missions. 34 Mirage 5 fighters were configured to specialise in the night-time surface attack role, the first 20 designated ROSE II and the last 14 aircraft ROSE III. All ROSE-modified aircraft are expected to remain in service with the Pakistan Air Force beyond 2010, being replaced by the JF-17 multirole fighter by 2015.
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