Dassault Mirage IV

Mirage IVA
Image caption
Description
Role	Bomber aircraft
Crew	Two - pilot, navigator
First Flight	October 12 1961
Entered Service	1964
Manufacturers	Dassault Aviation
Dimensions
Length	23.35 m (without probe)	ft
Wingspan	11.84 m	ft
Height	5.45 m	ft
Wing area	78.00 m²	ft²
Weights
Empty	14,206 kg	lbs
Loaded	31,600 kg	lb
Maximum takeoff	33,000 kg	lb
Powerplant
Engines	2x SNECMA ATAR 9K13
Thrust	4,700/6,700 kg (afterburning)	lb
Performance
Maximum speed	Mach 2.2
Maximum speed	mph	km/h
Combat Radius	2,000 km	miles
Ferry range	km	miles
Service ceiling	20,000 m	ft
Rate of climb	m/min	ft/min
Wing loading	405-429 kg/m²	lb/ft²
Thrust/Weight
Avionics
Avionics
Armament
Bombs	1 nuclear bomb (Mirage IVA)
Missiles	1 medium range air-to-ground missile ASMP (Mirage IVP)
Other	Reconnaissance container

The Dassault Mirage IV is a French jet supersonic strategic bomber and reconnaissance aircraft.

Work on a supersonic bomber, able to carry a nuclear bomb, started in France in 1956. The first prototype Mirage IV-01, flown on June 17, 1959, was basically an enlarged Mirage III delta wing fighter. It was found to have insufficient range, so the much larger and sophisticated Mirage IVB project was developed . When this was in turn considered too expensive, the medium-size Mirage IVA was chosen as the final variant.

The prototype Mirage IVA-02 was flown on October 12, 1961, and was accepted for a serial production. The first serial Mirage IVA was flown in December 1963. A series of 62 aircraft were built, and they entered service between 1964-1968.

The aircraft is similar to Mirage fighters, with tailless delta wing layout. It has two jet engines in the rear fuselage, with air intakes on both sides of the fuselage. The Mirage IVA caried one nuclear bomb, partially recessed in a bomb bay. Initially it carried the 60-70 kiloton AN11 bomb , then the 60 kiloton AN21 or AN22.

The Mirage IVA, entering service in February 1964, along with the first French AN11, started the French strategic airforce. With the advent of Mirage IVA, the first two strategic squadrons were created: EB 1/91 Gascogne and EB 2/91 Bretagne, followed by another 7 squadrons in 3 regiments. After establishment of its own deterrent force, France quit NATO in 1966.

The primary objectives of the Mirage IVA force were major Soviet cities and bases. With air refuelling, the plane was able to attack Moscow, Murmansk or Ukrainian cities from French bases. In order to refuel them, KC-135 planes were bought in the USA (in the C-135F variant). The basic attack flight profile was high-high-high, at the speed of Mach 1.85, engaging targets at maximum radius of 3,500 km (2,185 miles). In the late 1960s, when a threat of anti-aircraft defence increased, the Mirage IVA was modified to low flying. Flying low, the maximum attack speed was reduced to 1,100 km/h (687 miles), the combat radius decreased as well. The aircraft were fitted with electronic warfare capability, which were modified during service (mostly jamming and chaff devices). Instead of bombs, some aircraft could carry a CT-52 container with a photo reconnaissance equipement.

With the still increasing threat of AA defence, the French developed an air-to-ground missile, the ASMP. It had a range of 30-400 km (18.7-250 miles), and could be equipped with a conventional warhead or a nuclear warhead (100-300 kT). Starting from 1985, 19 Mirage IVAs were modified to carry the new weapon instead of bombs, and received a new designation Mirage IVP (for "Penetration"). They carried a missile or a reconnaissance container under an external pod. When the Mirage IVP entered service in 1986 in EB 1/91 and EB 2/91 (6 bombers in a squadron), the other squadrons using the Mirage IVA were disbanded.

In 1996, EB 2/91 was disbanded, while EB 1/91 was changed to a strategic reconnaissance squadron, redesignated ERS 1/91 Gascogne. The role of strategic ASMP carriers was taken by smaller Mirage 2000N. The remaining several Mirage IVP became reconnaissance aircraft only. In this role, they were used in operations above Bosnia and Herzegovina and in Africa.

Related content
Related Development
Similar Aircraft	B-58 Hustler - TSR-2 - Tu-22 - Avro Vulcan
Designation Series	Mirage III - Mirage IV - Mirage V - Mirage 2000
Related Lists	List of bomber aircraft

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