Dassault-Breguet Mirage IV
The Dassault-Breguet Mirage IV was designed in the 1950's for one reason. To carry a nuclear bomb. The Mirage IV flies around mach two at high altitude. The airframe of the Mirage IV, which entered service in 1964, is an enlarged and more advanced version of the Mirage III. The IV has two engines against the III's one, and the Mirage IV adds a crew member. The Mirage IV also has a more advanced navigation and radar system. After surface to air missile technology was sufficiently advanced to reach all but the highest flying aircraft the Mirage's role changed. Instead of flying at high altitudes the bomber was forced to fly low-level penetration missions using advanced terrain-following radar which put it in the same class as the American F-111 and the Panavia Tornado. Because low-level flight blows fuel consumption off the map the french developed a buddy system for refueling. The Mirage IV's operate in pairs, one plane carrying the weapons while the other is armed with an overload of avgas (aviation fuel). During the 1970's France developed long range nuclear armed standoff cruise missiles. By 1986, 18 Mirage IV's had been modified to carry missiles rather than bombs. These 18 planes were also giving state-of-the-art navigation, radar, jamming, and chaff equipment. With the exception of 12 planes converted for reconnaissance the remaining Mirage IV's were withdrawn from service. However, the 30 converted airframes will remain in service from some years to come.
Here's a neat fact. With the Mirage IV France is one of three (US, CIS, FRANCE) countries in the world capable of delivering a nuclear punch from underground silos, submarines, and from the air.
Specifications
(Data for Mirage IV)
Origin: Dassault-Breguet
Type: Strategic bomber and missile carrier
Crew: Pilot & Navigator
Powerplant: Two SNECMA Atar 09K after-burning turbojets each delivering 7 014.5 kg (15 432 lbs) of thrust
Dimensions
Span: 11.85m (38' 10.5")
Height: 5.325m (17' 9")
Length: 23.5m (77' 1")
Weight: 33 545m (73 800 lbs) loaded
Performance
Maximum Speed: 2 326.4 kph (1 454 mph)
Cruising Speed:
Climb Rate:
Range: 1 232 km (770 miles)
Service Ceiling: 18 000 m (60 000 feet)
Armament
One Freefall nuclear bomb, 18 planes modified in 1986 to carry a nuclear armed cruise missile
First Flight: 1963
User(s): L'Armee de l'Air
Production: 62
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