Mirage IV

[elmayerle]

Hmm, how about a Mirage IVN all-weather fighter in 1/72 using a couple Mirage III canopies to give decent vision?  Alternatively, a Mirage IVM naval strike fighter.

[Geoff_B]

Hi Jeff

By the way, I have one of the 72nd scale kits that I picked up several years ago that was missing the clear parts. I figured it was going to be a paint test dummy or a what-if twin engine Mirage fighter in 48th scale.

I've probably got spare canopies for the Mirage IV as iused these as a basis for the Hawker 1125 and 1129 that i did last year. PM us your address and i'll send them over.

As for the conversion i had intended to fit a suitable decal other the bump to represent some kind of sensor, i may yet mask it off and paint it a different shade to represent the glass fibre cover. The biggest problem was this was on the join where i extended the fuselage so the original opening got a little mucked up.

Like the sound of the Naval variants, i know a basic drawing has been published in a french Aircraft book, but they would need a US Supercarrier siezed carrier to operate from !!!!!!!!.

Be interesting putting some JP-233's on the belly on the IV as it has the room, also fitting 2000D style pylons to the belly to give a better war load....

Geoff B

[PolluxDeltaSeven]

Hmm, how about a Mirage IVN all-weather fighter in 1/72 using a couple Mirage III canopies to give decent vision? Alternatively, a Mirage IVM naval strike fighter.

Indeed, Marcel Dassault works on a naval variant of his Mirage IV for satisfie Charles De Gaule willing of nuclear independance. But such a plane was not realistic, as Thorvic says: the Fosh and Clemenceau CV was initialy made as interimary CV. But a french carrier was not a realistic idea. SSBN are better for the dissuasion mission.

But what about an american Mirage IV???  The A-5 Vigilant was not able to do its nuclear mission because of technical problems. So, all the Vigilant was used for reco missions. But what about about the Navy's long range high speed nuclear mission??
It is not so unrealistic: USA buy Harrier and Canberra in the 60's, no??


Moreover, one of the the first design of the Mirage IV was a bomber with 2 J58 or J75 engins!! A jet more bigger than a Mig-31 !!!!

[NARSES2]

Ok so how would the US have "Americanised" the Mirage IV ? US built Spey's ?

Chris

[Daryl J.]

Knowing very little about the actual aircraft it surprises me that some have said it was a 1-way nuclear bomber.   True?  False?    

If true, how easy would it be to reprofile missions/equipment to make it a non-suicide mission?  Would enlarged ''Hindenburger-like'' tanks be adequate?   A complete revision internally?    

Conceptually, I've been thinking of a Euro B-58 and landed on the Mirage for the airframe.    The one-way ticket thing has me a tad bit stumped, however.  The trick is to get around that in a convincing manner.

It's a handsome enough airframe that whiffery ought to be wrought, eh?

Thoughts/comments?


Daryl J.

[PolluxDeltaSeven]

Well, the problem is very complex...

As far as I know, the Mirage IV (idem for the Mirage 2000N) isn't a 1 way bomber in theory...
In the actual events, everything could be different (like for every nuclear bomber)

The Mirage IV was not designed as a suicide bomber. They've got the ECM, the fuel, the tankers, the mission's profiles to have a return way... But all depends of the mission.

For a tactical nuclear mission (for example destroy the pipelines that refueled the WarPac front units, or destroy a major bomber air base in Poland), the Mirage IV with a ASMP missile is refueled over Germany by a KC-135FR, goes behinds ennemy lines at low altitude, execute its mission, came back and landed normaly in France, Denmark, Germany or even Sweden...

But for a strategic mission, the problem is not about the fuel and the back way. For a surprise mission, an aerial refuel before the attack mission could be planed over the Baltic Sea, and that could allowed a nuclear mission over Leningrad, Moscow, Kiyev or Murmansk...
If the pilotes are in good relationship with God, Gaïa, Bouddha or whatever, they even could return back over the Baltic Sea or the Black Sea without beeing destroy by all the SAM and Mig in flight.
And then, if the tankers are also still alive, the Mirage IV (but also all the B-52 and FB-111) could have enough fuel to try to find a base to land...
If Russia hasn't backfired yet, they even could return in France or a NATO base!
But their best chances are probably in a swedish highway or in a part of the Middle East desert if they chose the South way... And that's before all the nuclear radiation in the winds and the waters kill them slowly...

Because of course, we all know what will happened if strategic nuclear weapons are used... There is no need to turn back in France, UK or the USA... Because there will be no France, UK and USA anymore...


That's why the missions of the Mirage IV wasn't suicide mission at the end of their lifetime in operationnal service: the strategic nuclear missions of French military forces had to be done by our ICBM in our subs... The ASMP missiles launched by the Mirage IV, Mirage 2000 and Super Etendard (on the CV) are most planed to be used for military (tactical, prestrategic and strategic missions) purpose...
In case of total nuclear war, the question of suicide mission doesn't exist anymore because, even if the planes have the fuel and the tankers to come back (and they could have that!!), and even if they survive to the Mig-21/23/25/29/31, Su-27 and all the SA-10/11 and 12, the pilotes had no need to turn back to an air base and a country that doesn't exist anymore...
That's why the Mirage IV wasn't replaced by the Mirage 4000 and that's why the Mirage IV were transformed into strategic recce planes: the real strategical missions are for the subs forces, the ASMP missiles beeing used for tactical and in reserve for strategic missions...

[SebastianP]

No way, no how would you be able to covertly refuel anything over the Baltic Sea. Trust me, I know - I served a year as a radar operator for the Swedish Air Defense Force. The Baltic is *tiny* - it takes all of ten minutes to fly from one end to the other. It's also small enough that you can see nearly all of the part that matters with one radar station, if it's placed near either side of the iron curtain, and within fifty miles or so of the coastline. Or in southern Sweden.

The closest spot you're likely to get for refuelling your strike package is off the Atlantic coast of Denmark - and the likeliest tactic for penetrating the Soviet air defenses a bum rush at wavetop level. Assuming you're smart enough to stay smack between the coastlines on either side, a Mach two dash against the border gives the Soviets ten to twenty seconds between earliest detection, and your crossing the border - if you're headed for the Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania). Running for Leningrad? That's five minutes of being within radar detection range, as you're flying down the gulf of Finland with Estonian radars lining the entire gap.

Also, forget going back home - the Russians won't be stupid enough to let you back out again, not with their air defenses prepared...

Now, as a nuclear SEAD aircraft, or with stand-off weapons, the Mirage series is a little better. Basically what you want to do is still bum rush the air defenses, launch your ordnance and run before they start shooting. Without opening some kind of major breach in those defenses though, you're just not going to get both there and back again if you're heading inland.

If I was planning a surprise nuclear deep strike, I'd make it a fourship - two penetrators to take out the target, and two SEAD aircraft that'd bomb the living hell out of the air defenses at the entry point, and up and down the coast for a few dozen clicks after breaking left and right from the formation....

SP

[PolluxDeltaSeven]

The "problem" with a massive nuclear strike is that you haven't a lot of chance to survive to the soviet defenses... That's why I wrote "If the pilotes are in good relationship with God, Gaïa, Bouddha or whatever"

But the fact (well, we're glad that is NOT a fact indeed) could be that with thousands fighters and bombers running over USSR, you could easily supposed that some bombers and fighters (not very much, but some) had enough luck to have a back home...
And in that case, the pilotes had some possibilities to land and survive...

I spoke to an ex-Mirage IV WISO years ago, and he talk to me a little (well, the details are of course classified) about those possibilities of Middle East and Scandinavia landing, or even an ejection over the French country...
But what he really said to me is that in case of war against the WarPac, no one in the armed forces of the NATO countries really thought he had a little chance to survive more than one or two missions...
Well, maybe no one in the WORLD could survive a WWIII !!! But each time a pilote had to go into his cokpit to bomb the soviet territory, the only thing he will think of will be the very very very little possibility to come back...

I supposed that they all know they will die, but they prefer not thinking about that...


PS: for the Baltic Sea, I apologize. I was thinking about what we call "mer du nord"... The North Sea in English I supposed...

[Archibald]

Another destiny for the Mirage IV.

The Mirage IVC was a delta wing, two engines fighter of 1958. It had four R-530 semi recessed under his belly. and could also be used on the nuclear strike role, The Mirage IVC was so powerful that the idea of making a bomber of it really attracted the AdA. More, at the beginning of the 60's, many countries were interested by the Mirage IV. As a consequence, Dassault decided to make a Mirage IVA non nuclear, long range bomber, exploiting the atar 9K  to its maximum. It was a private venture, but the AdA said Dassault that this aircraft could be a Vautour III replacement later.

The aircraft who flew on 17 June 1962 was a streched Mirage IVC, with atar engines of  7000kgp each. It could not carried nuclear bomb, and a conformal fuel tank was semi recessed underbelly. Many countries were interested, but disapointing by the engines (too much fuel consumption, for a limited power). After complaining to SNECMA, Dassault continued to promote his airplane.

And Great Britain started to have interest in the aircraft, as the TSR-2 -which was  was much better- ran into cost, political, and delays problems. The poor TSR-2 was finally cancelled in April 1965, leaving much regrets.

No time was lost by Great Britain to find him a successor : an accord was firmed on 17th may 1965  with France. The goal was to make a training aircraft starting from the Br121, and also a long range strike aircraft dubbed the AFVG. This was discuss in le Bourget airshow in june, and Dassault manage to scrap the AFVG and replacing it by its Mirage IVA. Great Britain agree, but, as many others countries, found the Mirage IVA limited by two factors : the lack of a radar following terrain in the nose, and its Atar engines. Dassault clearly agree with this statement, as he dislike Thompson CSF and SNECMA.

So he accepted the fact  that British motors and engines would be much better. The British had precisely an up-to-date radar, it was the Ferranti designed for the TSR-2. As Olympus engines could not reasonably be used in the Mirage IV, Rolls Royce proposed its Spey. This was a turbofan, and had a 9500kgp thrust, much better than the atar. The plane was built in 18 months, as it was a derivative of the IVC and A. In january 1967,the first prototype was ready in Istres.

Roland Beamont went to France, and meet Jean Marie Saget and René Bigand. Beamont climb on the cokpit, with Saget behind him. The prodigious skills of these pilots nearly assured the success of the first flight. The flight was unenventfull, a success. Beamont phone to the RAF and said "I've got your bird!".
The flight tests were rapidly made, and the prototype prove tremendous. It was much lighter than the F111 (the VG induced a big weight penalty, whereas the delta was much lighter),but had the same power (Spey = TF-30= 9500kgp of thrust) and a very good range. The aircraft had clearly much growth potential than the F-111, and development was surprisingly easy.  The RAF was satisfied with the plane, albeit it didn't have the enormous, brute power of the TSR-2.

But the events accelerated. In june 1966, Isreal test pilot Daniel Shapira went to France, to test the Mirage F2 who just flew. Israel wanted to bought 100 of them. He met Beamont, Bigand and Saget. Israel searched for a long range strike fighter, but Shapira was clearly dispointed by the F2. More, it had a TF-30 engine, and at the time, Israel as France could not afford that (for political reasons).

Dassault -who disliked the F2 too- proposed Shapira to make a  flight on the back seat of the Mirage IVA, mentionning that a much better derivative would come soon. Shapira was impressed by the IVA,and ask to pilot it. This was made, an the flight was tremendous: Shapira push the prototype to the edge, and when he came back to Israel, said the IDF/AF to change his plans. The F2 buying was scrapped, and replace by a Mirage IVK order.  Waiting for that, Israel ask France a loaning of Mirage IVA for recon, and conventional bombing. The IVA production was close to an end (it stopped in october 1968)  so a batch of  these bombers could be loan to Israel. The country was satisfied by the loan, and this help avoiding  tense relations between Isreal and France.
But time was running; in April 1967, 6 Syrians MIGs were downed by Mirage IIICJ. This create an enormous tension, and Israel prepare to attack first.  The loan with France was kept highly secret (as the F84F deal in 1956).

On the evening of 5th may, 1967 a Boeing landed in Cyprus. It had El Al markings, but was clearly not an airliner. Minutes later, a big, delta wing aircraft landed. This was clearly a Mirage IVA, with a recon pod underbelly. French-like pilots and NOSA climb down, and explain that they went to a NATO exercise on Wheelus AFB, in Lybia. The Boeing was -heavily- refueled and took off first, then the Mirage IV followed. The same incident took place five times during the week. Cyprus ambassador asked France what happened, but De Gaulle said the same thing the pilots had said. The rumor was in full swing, but was not confirmed.

On 6th may 1967, the first Mirage IVA landed on Hatzor, along with american RF4C phantoms (they come from Ramstein AFB via Moron in Spain.). A C-141 and a C-130 quickly followed, with the C-135FR. AdA and Dassault technicians started preparing the equipments. The Mirages IVA flew recon missions and 65000fts and mach2, escaping various times to MIGs just by climbing or accelerating. This airplanes were painted in the same camo as the Mirage IIICJ, with Isrealis markings; their pilots and NOSA were Israelians.

On 19th may 1967, a Mirage IV took off from Hatzor, climb to 65000fts and Mach2.2 at full power and headed to south west. Its goal: Louxor air base. The plane crossed the sinai, and entered Egyptian airspace. Right from this moment, dozens of MIG-21 interceptors tried to shoot it down all along the way. Some of then made zoom climbs, other launched Atoll air to air missiles -whithout any chance of success-!! But one of the pilots had a close look at the intruder and reported that it was "a delta wing, Mirage III-like but much bigger and with two exhausts".   Its glimpse was very brief, as its MIG couldn't stay more than 10 seconds to this height. Louxor air base was mapped, but then  SA-2 were launched : one of them exploded 800m behind the plane, which was shaked and slighltly crippled. The airplane quickly return to Hatzor, and landed. It was discovered that a piece of the missile was hanging below the exhaust of one Atar!!

When returning, Israelian pilot noticed that Dassault technicians looked sad : he learned that Dassault chief test pilot, René Bigand, had been killed on the crash of the first Mirage F1 prototype near Istres. A happier new was the first flight of the Mirage V on the same day; 50 of them were for Israel.

The Mirage IV detachment flew dozen of missions, and return to France on 15th June 1967. One of the plane stayed with IAI  for tests; the aim was to adapt bomb racks on underwings pylons, and determine the maximum bombload. This was a deep secrecy. The trouble was it was impossible to stop in Cyprus to refuel, and as consequence  the airplanes flew at subsonic speed from Hatzor to Mont de Marsan, using their maximum ferry range of nearly 4000kms. As it was insufficient, a C-135 was scrambled from Mont de Marsan to refuel some of the bombers. Only 5 airplanes were parked on the base, and stripped down of their Israelian markings. They return service on the following days.

After the Six-days war, the IVK continued his test flight; the plane entered service in the RAF in september 1969, along with Sq 1 harriers. The AdA, RAAF and SAAF also bought it, instead of Vautours, F-111 or Buccaneers.

But the Mirage IV would never be sold to Israel,because of the French arm embargo. Nevertheless, the Israelis made with this airplane exactly the same thing they had made with the Mirage V : steal the plans, borrow the atar engines to another country and construct 50 copies. The plane was dubbed "Raam", which means thunder in hebraic. For the second batch, the engines were replaced by J79 and local electronic systems were added. Their was also bomb racks underwings, and a conformal fuel tank under the belly... Israel had a tremendous bomber, far better than Phantom for long range, non-nuclear bombing.

So their was finally  three versions of Mirage IV

-Mirage IVA/I : two Atar 9 engines, 3000kms combat range, mach 2.2.
-Miragen IVF/K/Z/O : two Spey engines, 4800km range, mach2.5
-Raam : two J79 engines, 4000km range, mach2.3.

French prototype (with Atars) was Mirage IVA.
Israeli airplanes were Mirage IVI or (illegal) Raam.
For South Africa, this become Mirage IVZ,
Mirage IVO for Australia and
Mirage IVK for Great Britain.
French airplanes were Mirage IVF.

The Mirage IVK saw combat in Vietnam with the RAAF, in Angola with SAAF, in the Falkland War with the RAF and, more, during the Kippour War with the IDF/AF.

[Archibald]

Before the french arm embargo of 1967 (and the F4E sale) Israel long range strike aircraft was the Vautour. To replace it, the country thought about Mirage F2 and even Mirage IV bomber!!.  So I imagined the whatif story of Mirage IV in Israel... hope you enjoy it!!

In june 1966, Isreal test pilot Daniel Shapira went to France, to test the Mirage F2 who just flew. Israel wanted to bought 100 of them. He met Beamont, Bigand and Saget. Israel searched for a long range strike fighter, but Shapira was clearly dispointed by the F2. More, it had a TF-30 engine, and at the time, Israel as France could not afford that (for political reasons).

Dassault -who disliked the F2 too- proposed Shapira to make a  flight on the back seat of the Mirage IVA, mentionning that a much better derivative would come soon. Shapira was impressed by the IVA,and ask to pilot it. This was made, an the flight was tremendous: Shapira push the prototype to the edge, and when he came back to Israel, said the IDF/AF to change his plans. The F2 buying was scrapped, and replace by a Mirage IVK order.  Waiting for that, Israel ask France a loaning of Mirage IVA for recon, and conventional bombing. The IVA production was close to an end (it stopped in october 1968)  so a batch of  these bombers could be loan to Israel. The country was satisfied by the loan, and this help avoiding  tense relations between Isreal and France.  But time was running; in April 1967, 6 Syrians MIGs were downed by Mirage IIICJ. This create an enormous tension, and Israel prepare to attack first.  The loan with France was kept highly secret (as the F84F deal in 1956).

On the evening of 5th may, 1967 a Boeing landed in Cyprus. It had El Al markings, but was clearly not an airliner. Minutes later, a big, delta wing aircraft landed. This was clearly a Mirage IVA, with a recon pod underbelly. French-like pilots and NOSA climb down, and explain that they went to a NATO exercise on Wheelus AFB, in Lybia. The Boeing was -heavily- refueled and took off first, then the Mirage IV followed. The same incident took place five times during the week. Cyprus ambassador asked France what happened, but De Gaulle said the same thing the pilots had said. The rumor was in full swing, but was not confirmed. On 6th may 1967, the first Mirage IVA landed on Hatzor, along with american RF4C phantoms (they come from Ramstein AFB via Moron in Spain.). A C-141 and a C-130 quickly followed, with the C-135FR. AdA and Dassault technicians started preparing the equipments. The Mirages IVA flew recon missions and 65000fts and mach2, escaping various times to MIGs just by climbing or accelerating. This airplanes were painted in the same camo as the Mirage IIICJ, with Isrealis markings; their pilots and NOSA were Israelis.

On 19th may 1967, a Mirage IV took off from Hatzor, climb to 65000fts and Mach2.2 at full power and headed to south west. Its goal: Louxor air base. The plane crossed the sinai, and entered Egyptian airspace. Right from this moment, dozens of MIG-21 interceptors tried to shoot it down all along the way. Some of then made zoom climbs, other launched Atoll air to air missiles -whithout any chance of success-!! But one of the pilots had a close look at the intruder and reported that it was "a delta wing, Mirage III-like but much bigger and with two exhausts".   Its glimpse was very brief, as its MIG couldn't stay more than 10 seconds to this height. Louxor air base was mapped, but then  SA-2 were launched : one of them exploded 800m behind the plane, which was shaked and slighltly crippled. The airplane quickly return to Hatzor, and landed. It was discovered that a piece of the missile was hanging below the exhaust of one Atar!!

When returning, Israelian pilot noticed that Dassault technicians looked sad : he learned that Dassault chief test pilot, René Bigand, had been killed on the crash of the first Mirage F1 prototype near Istres. A happier new was the first flight of the Mirage V on the same day; 50 of them were for Israel. The Mirage IV detachment flew dozen of missions, and return to France on 15th June 1967. One of the plane stayed with IAI  for tests; the aim was to adapt bomb racks on underwings pylons, and determine the maximum bombload. This was a deep secrecy. The trouble was it was impossible to stop in Cyprus to refuel, and as consequence  the airplanes flew at subsonic speed from Hatzor to Mont de Marsan, using their maximum ferry range of nearly 4000kms. As it was insufficient, a C-135 was scrambled from Mont de Marsan to refuel some of the bombers. Only 5 airplanes were parked on the base, and stripped down of their Israelian markings. They return service on the following days.

After the Six-days war, the IVK continued his test flight; the plane entered service in the RAF in september 1969, along with Sq 1 harriers. The AdA, RAAF and SAAF also bought it, instead of Vautours, F-111 or Buccaneers.But the Mirage IV would never be sold to Israel,because of the French arm embargo. Nevertheless, the Israelis made with this airplane exactly the same thing they had made with the Mirage V : steal the plans, borrow the atar engines to another country and construct 50 copies. The plane was dubbed "Raam", which means thunder in hebraic. For the second batch, the engines were replaced by J79 and local electronic systems were added. Their was also bomb racks underwings, and a conformal fuel tank under the belly… Israel had a tremendous bomber, far better than Phantom for long range, non-nuclear bombing.
So their was finally  three versions of Mirage IV
-   Mirage IVA/I : two Atar 9 engines, 3000kms combat range, mach 2.2.
-   Miragen IVF/K/Z/O : two Spey engines, 4800km range, mach2.5
-   Raam : two J79 engines, 4000km range, mach2.3.
French prototype (with Atars) was Mirage IVA. Israeli airplanes were Mirage IVI or (illegal) Raam. For South Africa, this become Mirage IVZ, Mirage IVO for Australia and Mirage IVK for Great Britain. French airplanes were Mirage IVF.  The Mirage IVK saw combat in Vietnam with the RAAF, in Angola with SAAF, in the Falkland War with the RAF and, more, during the Kippour War with the IDF/AF.

[Archibald]

The Mirage IVF.

In 1962, the bloody algerian war ended. There was still french nuclear and spatial sites in the desert (in Reggane and Hammaguir) , but they were abandonned in 1965. Starting from 1966, situation become tense in algeria. The country received fighters from the USSR. Later, bombers were requested and Tu-16 Badger and Tu-22 Blinder were bought. From 1967, algeria launch recon flights over the mediterranenan sea. The Algerian pilots push their patrols to the north, heading from corsica. On may, 19th 1967, a Tu-16 Badger overflew Bastia at low-level. French AdA was taken by surprise. So a Mirage IIIC detachment was made in solenzara, and Mirage IIIC started to intercept algerian bombers. The problem quickly appear : Mirage IIIC range was too short. Mirage F1C would solve the problem, but no until 1973. More, Mirage F1C facing high-level Tu-22 Blinders over the Mediterranean sea would have a too short range. A better interceptor was needed, but the country couldn't afford a new program at the time. That's why in December 1967, Dassault proposed the AdA a long range interceptor based on the Mirage IVA bomber. This idea relied in pilots testimonies saying that the big delta wing of the Mirage IV (with a wing area of nearly 80m2) gave the plane a good agility at height. More, the Mirage IV could stay 20minuts at mach2. Based on existing materials, the plane could fly in 18 months. A Cyrano II radar from the Mirage IIIC was mounted in the nose. Of course, it was upgraded, but the antenna was also larger, augmenting detection range up to 65kms. In fact, Mirage IV nose was much larger than the Mirage IIIC. No less than four R-530 medium range AAM were mounted, semi recessed under the belly (exactly in the same way as the Sparrows in the Phantom). Two AIM-9 were carried underwings. Compared to Mirage IIIC or F1C, the second crew member diminished pilot workload.

The trouble with Mirage IV was its weak thrust to weight ratio. To boost climb rate, Atar 9K-31 were replaced by Atar 9K-50 with 7200kgp each, giving the plane 800kgp more thrust. As this was clearly insuficient, Dasault proposed another way of improving performances. Four SEPR-632 rocket motors (giving 1500kgp each) were mounted below the engines in a ventral fairing. These  rockets were fed by a large conformal fuel tank, semi recessed under the belly. In fact, a brilliant idea had been to replace the AN-22 atomic bomb by this fuel tank. This added no weight or drag compared to the "normal" bomber. The Mirage IVF used these rockets to climb faster at 60000fts and mach2. Of course, the plane could reach the same height and speed on its engines alone, and use the rockets for a zoom climb up to 75000fts.Fuel tank and rockets could be jettisoned at height. The plane become very similar to the British F155T heavy fighter of the late 50's.

The AdA liked the idea, particularly since the service really wanted a twin jet fighter. So, the Mirage G8 RAGEL program was scrapped, and some Mirage F1 too. The production line of the Mirage IVA was still open at the time. As ballistic missiles and submarines were ready, the last 20 Mirage IVA nuclear bombers were converted to the interceptor role. Only was squadron was to equip with the new figter in solenzar, replacing its Mirage IIIC.

The plane entered service in spring 1971. At the time, Mirage IIIC had intercepted Tu-16 regularly at low-level, so the Algerian pilots now used Tu-22 blinder at supersonic speeds and high heights. The Mirage IIIC were unable to intercept them, so the Mirage IVF arrival was really a relief for the pilots… and results were tremendous. A Mirage IVF illuminate a Blinder with its fire-control system for 15 minutes at high supersonics speeds; the algerian never send their precious bombers again.

In 1977, Dassault proposed an upgraded IVF with M53 engines. Rockets were deleted, and a RDM radar was fitted in the nose. Four Super-530F missiles replaced the R-530. Despite performances superior to the ACF and Mirage 2000, the AdA didn't bite the idea, as the Mirage IV was outdated at the time.  In fact the 1500 kgp rockets are "borrowed" to the SO-4050 Trident II rocket interceptor of the late 50's.  I always thought that a interceptor variant of Mirage IV would have been a very good long range interceptor (like the Tu-128). The R-530 was french equivalent of early AIM-7 Sparrows (including low efficiency ) 

[MartG]

Text all in French, but some good pics

http://perso.wanadoo.fr/aeromil-yf/mirage_iv.htm

[MartG]

Thought this might be of interest.....

[upnorth]

So I was perusing Pavla's site and saw this in their new releases:

http://www.pavlamodels.cz/katalogy/detail....c61c74bf43df480

That just might be the catalyst I need to buy that Mirage  IV my LHS has. I built it years ago, just might have to take another shot at it.

[Jeffry Fontaine]

The 1/48th scale Mirage IV is also in need of some resin improvements.  A shame that they have not done a cockpit upgrade in that scale as well.