Dassault



 Strategic bomber


History

In 1956, SNCASO studied the SO 4060 , an interceptor equipped with a radar, able to fly at Mach 1.3, successor of Vautour N wich moreover was not still in service. At the same time the Générale Aéronautique Marcel Dassault studied several projects of fighters, from lightest which will give rise to Mirage IIIA, to heaviest : the twin-jet powered Mirage IV. In November 1956, French Ministry of Defence decides that only the study of Mirage IIIA must be continued, Mirage IV having to evolve to a bomber able to fly at more than Mach 2. In April 1957, the contract for the manufacture of Mirage IV-01 prototype is signed. It looks like a scale 2 Mirage III-A for the wing area, powerplant and empty weight. On the other hand, it carries 3 times more fuel. It's a two seater owing to the necessary presence of a navigator in order to complete the mission.
SO 4060 and Mirage IV are placed in competition. The delta formula of Mirage IV seems better correspond to the mission rather than the SO 4060 sweptback wing, this last suffered an high empty weight and under-motorization, the project is cancelled in autumn 1958. In same time, General de Gaulle decides to equip France with nuclear, independent and sufficiently credible forces to dissuade any possible agressor.
Mirage IV is appointed as vector of the Strategic Nuclear Weapon. The first Mirage IV prototype took flight on june 17, 1959, by Roland Glavany, powered by two SNECMA Atar 9 turbojets. This aircraft flyed by René Bigand beat on September 22, 1960 the world record for speed in closed loop of 1000 km at the average speed of 1822 km/h, including 30 minutes achieved between Mach 1,8 and 2,0. The second prototype is called Mirage IV A and equipped with Atar 9D turbojets, later with 9K. Other missions than bombardment are possible : strategic recognition thanks to a specific ventral pod (CT 52 with optical cameras and/or infra-red detecting), and electronic warfare thanks to a specialized pod (CT 51) carried under the wingframe.


Production

The initial program planned the production of 80 specimens including 53 in bomber version and 27 for recognition and electronic warfare. Due to money savings, only 50 specimens were ordered in 1962; missions reserved for the specialized planes being covered by Mirage IV A equipped with specific containers. An additional order of 12 specimens was placed in November 1965, increasing the total number of Mirage IV A to 62.
Sud-Aviation, manufactured the wingframe, central and back sections of fuselage; Breguet, the tail and Morane the removable nose. GAMD manufactured the forward fuselage section, the extreme back part, the fuselage assembly and accomodation at Argenteuil, final assembly and control of finished aircrafts at Mérignac. Deliveries were carried out at the rate of two per month to be completed in March 1968.


When it was Mirage IV A

In the Eighties a new version was studied and carried out : the Mirage IV P. Derived from the IV A, it is equiped with two SAGEM Inertial Reference Unit, adapted from those of Mirage 2000N, a new Thomson Iguane panoramic radar, ECMs , chaffs, and the supersonic nuclear missile ASMP produced by Aérospatiale. The development of the prototype was made by Dassault and the transformation of 18 Mirage IV A carried out by the Atelier Industriel de l'Aéronautique at Clermont-Ferrand. The first Mirage IV P flight took place on October 12, 1982 ; the 18th delivered to Armée de l'Air on December 9, 1987.


Career

The first production aircraft was delivered to Armée de l'Air in february 1964. The same year, in october, the firsts Mirage IV squadrons are operationals. Mirage IV A were used by 91st and 94th bomber squadrons.
In order to validate the drived strategic weapon system, the plane n 9 carried out, in July 1966, at Centre d'Essais du Pacifique a real nuclear drop.
The last Mirage IV A was withdrawn from use on july 1st,1988, at the Escadron de Bombardement 2/94 Marne.
At the same time, Mirage IV P entered in operational service in the Armée de l'Air on May 1st, 1986. It was employed for recognition missions in Tchad, during Gulf War, in ex-Yugoslavia and Afghanistan.
Last user was Escadron de Reconnaissance Stratégique 1/91 Gascogne.
Last Mirage IV in maintenance left the ESTS on February 25, 2005, it remained only four operational at this time.
The final withdrawal took place at Mont-de-Marsan on June 23, 2005.

Export

The Royal Air Force planned to use Mirage IV powered by two Avon turbojets, but this project was cancelled.

Technical features
Wingspan	11,85 m
Length	23,49 m
Height	5,45 m
Wingarea	78 m2
Empty weight	14180 kg
Gross weight	33475 kg
Max. range	4000 km
Tactical range	1240 km
Max. speed	Mach 2,2 (2340 km/h) at 13125 m
Turbojets	2 SNECMA Atar 9K14 of 7800 kg thrust each

CAEA's specimen

Conservatoire's Mirage IV P is n 56 code CC. Visible in hangar

Mirage III NG

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Mirage 2000 B