Kremlin wrote:
They are all generally referred to as Cheetah D's ... however within SAAF circles they were more strictly referred to as B, D, and D2, based on the original Mirage III airframe used in the conversion.
Cheetah B = 5 x ex-Israeli Nesher B (was in essence a Mirage 5B, so accordingly named Nesher-B)
Cheetah D = 3 x Mirage III DZ
Cheetah D2 = 8 x Mirage IIID2Z
There is a problem with this.
Some one on this forum, once pointed out that some people think the Cheetah D2 was derived from the Mirage IIID2Z, and that it was not so.
He explained that the Mirage IIIDZ and IIID2Z were rebuilt to the same specification, into the Cheetah D.
The Cheetah C program came after the Cheetah E and B/D program, the Cheetah C got the upgraded landing gear, wrap around windscreen and the Atat 9K50 engine compared the the previous Cheetah's.
Once the Cheetah C program was complete, they decided to upgrade some, not all 2 seater Cheetahs with items from the Cheetah C program, the wrap around windscreen, upgraded landing gear, Atar 9K50 replacing the Atar 9C engine.