SEPECAT Jaguar

Summary

Description

The Mirage IV was developed in the late 1950s as a strategic bomber and reconnaissance aircraft for the French Air Force. It was designed by Dassault Aviation in response to a French government requirement for a supersonic nuclear bomber capable of carrying out long-range missions. The aircraft's development was closely related to that of the Mirage III, sharing its delta-wing configuration and many of its design principles. The first prototype flew in 1959, and the Mirage IV entered service in 1964.

The Mirage IV's structure featured a delta wing design, which provided excellent high-speed performance and good stability at high altitudes. The aircraft had a longer fuselage than the Mirage III to accommodate the larger nuclear payload and additional fuel required for long-range missions. The Mirage IV was powered by two SNECMA Atar 9K turbojet engines with afterburners, enabling it to achieve a top speed of Mach 2.2 and a range of around 2,000 nautical miles.

The avionics suite of the Mirage IV included navigation and bombing systems, as well as radar and electronic countermeasures equipment. Its primary role was to deliver a single AN-22 free-fall nuclear bomb, although it could also carry conventional bombs or reconnaissance equipment in place of the nuclear payload. The aircraft did not have any built-in air-to-air armament, but it could be fitted with Matra R.530 air-to-air missiles for self-defense in some versions.

The Mirage IV served primarily with the French Air Force, where it was a cornerstone of France's strategic nuclear deterrent for several decades. The aircraft was also used for long-range reconnaissance missions and participated in a number of exercises and operations throughout its service life. The Mirage IV fleet was eventually retired from active service in 2005, replaced by the more modern and versatile Dassault Rafale, which took over the nuclear strike role.

There were several main versions of the Mirage IV, which included:

1. Mirage IV-A: The initial production version, with 62 aircraft built. This variant was used primarily for the nuclear strike role, but it was also capable of conventional bombing and reconnaissance missions.
2. Mirage IV-P: A small number of Mirage IV-A aircraft were converted to Mirage IV-P (Pénétration) standard in the 1980s. These featured updated avionics and electronic countermeasures systems, as well as the ability to carry the ASMP stand-off nuclear missile.
3. Mirage IV-R: A dedicated reconnaissance variant with specialized cameras and sensors in place of the nuclear payload. A total of 12 aircraft were converted from existing Mirage IV-A airframes.
4. Mirage IV-S: A single Mirage IV-A was converted into a Mirage IV-S for trials and test purposes. This version was fitted with a number of modifications, including the addition of a retractable in-flight refueling probe.

In total, 66 Mirage IV aircraft were built, including prototypes and test airframes. Although the Mirage IV was never exported to other countries, it played a vital role in France's strategic defense capabilities during the Cold War and beyond. The aircraft's legacy lives on in the form of the Mirage 2000N and Dassault Rafale, which have taken over the nuclear strike role in the French Air Force.

Technical specifications

Current operating countries

Country		Units
	India	160

Numbers in parentheses, e.g. '(+5)', indicate units ordered but not yet delivered.

All operators

Ecuador • France • United Kingdom • India • Nigeria • Oman

Armament

Missiles payload:

• Air-to-Surface AM39 Exocet
• Air-to-Surface AS.30
• Air-to-Surface AS.37 Martel
• Air-to-Air Short-Range R550 Magic

Bombs payload:

• Anti-Runway Matra BLU-107/B Durandal
• Low-Drag Mk 82
• Anti-Runway Thomson-CSF BAP-100
• Low-Drag Thomson-CSF BAT-120

Photo of Jaguar

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