Dassault Mirage IV

The Dassault Mirage IV was a two-seat, supersonic bomber, which was in service with the French Air Force from 1964 to 1996. It had the capacity to carry advanced new weapons and avionics thanks to the effective upgrades made by Dassault's engineers. Designed to carry nuclear bombs and missiles, the Mirage IV was the aerial component of the French nuclear deterrence during the Cold War. It was the first European military aircraft capable of flying at sustained Mach-2 speed.

The Dassault Mirage IV was developed from the Mirage III, which was smaller, yet with the same configuration. To transform the interceptor into a bomber, it was necessary to scale it up by a factor of two. The prototype flew for the first time on June 17, 1959, being flown by test pilot Roland Glavany. Three days later, this prototype, the Mirage IV-O1, was authorized to make a pass over the Parish Air Show, with General Charles de Gaulle among the onlookers. It was introduced into service with the French Air Force (Armée de l'Air) on October 1, 1964, as the Mirage IV-A. A total of 62 strategic bombers would be produced.

Front view of the Mirage IV as it maneuvers to take off.

Technical Description

The Dassault Mirage IV was a two-seat, twin-engine monoplane of all-metal construction. The layout and shape was almost identical to that of the Mirage III but it was longer, with a wider wing span, and it was powered by two jet engines instead of one. Therefore, it was fitted with large delta wing and the tail assembly lacked the horizontal plane, having only a large vertical fin. Thus, for take-off, the aircraft used the wing trailing edge flaps as elevators. The aircraft was equipped with air brakes that were mounted on the upper surface of wing root. The Mirage IV had an internal bomb-bay. The fuel tanks were located in the center of fuselage. The jet engines air intakes were situated on the sides of fuselage. Pilot and navigator sat in tandem in a twin-canopy cockpit; they were both provided with Hispano-built Martin-Baker BM.4 ejection seats.

Specifications

Type: long-range strategic bomber

Length: 23.50 m (77 feet, 1 inch)

Wing Span: 11.85 m (38 feet, 11 inches)

Wing Area: 78 m2 (840 square feet)

Height: 5.65 m (18 feet, 6 inches)

Power Plant: two 15,880-lb, SNECMA Atar 9K-50 turbojet engines

Maximum Speed: Mach 2.2 (2,338 km/h or 1,453 mph)

Range: 4,000 km (2,485 miles)

Service Ceiling: 20,000 m (65,617 feet)

Crew: two (pilot and navigator)

Avionics: Thomson-CSF navigation radar

Armament: one ASMP nuclear missile; or six conventional bombs; or four AS.37 Martel anti-radiation missiles.

The Mirage IVA first production bomber as it takes off.

A Mirage IV (on top) and the Mirage III, side by side.

The French bomber on airbase in the late 1960s.

Dassault Mirage III

The Dassault Mirage III was a supersonic jet interceptor in service with the French Air Force during the Cold War. It was the first French delta-wing aircraft on active duty. It was one of the most efficient combat planes of this historical period. Several countries around the world acquired the Mirage III to beef up their air forces; Australia, Turkey, Peru, Switzerland, Pakistan, and Israel. This famous aircraft took part in several armed conflicts in the second half of the 20th century, such as the Six Day War, Yom Kippur War, the Falklands War, and South Africa Border War. In the hands of a well-trained pilot, it proved to be a lethal flying machine.

The Dassault Mirage III-001 prototype performed its maiden flight on November 17, 1956. It took five years for the aircraft to pass all the flight tests as it was introduced into service with the French Air Force on June 20, 1961. The first version was the Mirage IIIA, which was a pre-production model; the IIIC was the first major production variant, which was an interceptor; the IIIE was the fighter version, while the IIIB and the IIID were two-seat trainer aircraft. Thus, this French warplane was the progenitor of a family of interceptors and fighters, which have in common a delta wing configuration and reliable, maneuverable flight performance. An estimated total of 1,500 aircraft were made as it became the backbone of the French Air Force in the 1960s and 1970s. It would be replaced by the Mirage 2000 in French service.

Technical Characteristics

The Dassault Mirage III was a single-seat, single-engine monoplane, whose airframe and fuselage were all-metal. It was a delta, low-winged aircraft. It had no conventional tailplane as it was fitted only with a a large vertical fin. The traditional tailplane elevator function of climbing up was performed by the elevons and ailerons on the wing trailing edge; these movable control surfaces also managed pitch and roll. The cockpit was equipped with a Martin-Baker ejection seat and a large canopy. The aircraft was powered by one SNECMA Atar 09C turbojet engine, with afterburner. The power plant generated 13,700 pounds of thrust. Like on most jet plane, the engine air intakes were located laterally, on the sides of fuselage. Its retractable landing gear was of the tricycle type.

Specifications (Mirage IIIE)

Type: interceptor/fighter

Length: 15 m (49 feet, 4 inches)

Wing Span: 8.22 m (27 feet)

Wing Area: 35 m2 (377 square feet)

Height: 4.50 m (14 feet, 9 inches)

Power Plant: one 13,700-lb, SNECMA 09C-3 turbojet engine, with afterburner.

Maximum Speed: Mach 2.1 (2,350 km/h or 1,460 mph)

Range: 2,400 km (1,491 miles)

Service Ceiling: 14,440 m (47,375 feet)

Crew: one

Armament: one 30-mm DEFA 552 cannon; MATRA R.511 or Hughes AIM-26 air-to-air missiles.

A Mirage IIIE version of the Pakistani Air Force in the 1980s.

The prototype III-001 in late 1956.

The IIIB version: a two-seat trainer.

Dassault Étendard IV

The Dassault Étendard IV was an attack aircraft in service with the French Navy during the Cold War. It was the first French, carrier-based strike aircraft powered by a turbojet engine. Developed from the Dassault Mystère XXIV, it was originally intended as a close-support combat plane for the French Air Force. However, the Étendard IV was a versatile machine that would be developed to become the Navy's reliable carrier-based attack aircraft of the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. With a total of 90 aircraft produced, it was retired from service in 1991 as it was replaced by the Super Étendard.

The prototype of the Dassault Étendard IV first flew on July 24, 1956, at Mérignac. It was flown by pilot Georges Brian. The flight tests showed that it was an excellent aircraft for attack missions, both in the anti-ship and land-attack roles. In January 1958, the prototype would break the world speed record, flying at 1,020 km per hour on 1,000 km distance. The aircraft would finally be introduced into service with the French Navy in June 1962 as the Étendard IVM ('M' for 'Marine', the French word for navy). Also the IVP variant, for photographic reconnaissance missions, would be developed. Thus, 69 Étendard IVM and 21 IVP aircraft operated from the French Foch and Clémenceau aircraft carriers during the Cold War, until the early 1990s. For attack missions, this naval combat plane was armed with AS-30 air-to-ground missiles, plus bombs and rockets.

The Etendard IVM in flight in 1975.

Technical Descriptions

The Dassault Etendard IV was a single-seat, single-engine jet monoplane of all-metal construction. It was fitted with cantilever, swept mid-wing. The wing trailing edge was equipped with double-slotted flaps and electrically-powered ailerons. The tip of wing could be folded up for storage. The tail assembly consisted of a large vertical fin and swept horizontal plane which was mounted on the lower portion of fin. The Étendard IVM was powered by one SNECMA Atar-88, single-shaft, non-afterburner, turbojet engine, which could generate 9,700 pounds of thrust. The engine air intakes were located on the sides of fuselage. Landing gear was retractable.

Specifications

Type: carrier-borne attack aircraft

Length: 14.43 m (47 feet, 4 inches)

Wing Span: 9.60 m (31 feet, 6 inches)

Wing Area: 28.99 m (312 square feet)

Height: 4.32 m (14 feet, 2 inches)

Power Plant: one 9,700-lb, SNECMA Atar-88 turbojet engine

Maximum Speed: 1,096 km/h (681 mph)

Combat Radius: 300 km (186 miles), when flying at low levels; 805 km (500 miles) at high altitudes.

Service Ceiling: 15,500 m (50,850 feet)

Crew: one

Avionics: one AIDA radar

Armament: two 30-mm DEFA cannons; AS-30 and AS-20 air-to-ground missiles; 68-mm Matra rockets launched from two rocket pods; up to 1,360-kg (3,000-lb) of bombs; and Matra-Magic air-to-air missiles for self-defense.

The Etendard IV takes off the flight deck of the Clemenceau aircraft carrier

The Etendard IVP reconnaissance version. You can see the high-resolution photographic camera on belly of aircraft.

Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon

The Lockeed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon is an American, all-weather, supersonic fighter and strike aircraft in service with US Air Force since 1978. It was developed and originally produced by General Dynamics between 1974 and 1993. However, in 1993, Lockheed Martin took over production of the aircraft, which was exported to several allied nations. When it was introduced, the Fighting Falcon's maneuverability was superior to any contemporary aircraft when it was operating in the air superiority role. However, it was surpassed by the F-15 Eagle in speed and combat radius.

The Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon grew out of a 1972 US Air Force's directive for the production of two prototypes that had to have all-weather and air-superiority characteristics, and capable of carrying AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles. The first YF-16 prototype made its maiden flight on January 20, 1974. In 1975, the General Dynamics YF-16 prototype was declared the winner of the USAF Air Combat Fighter program, beating its competitor, the Northrop YF-17. Thus, the new General Dynamic fighter aircraft entered service with the US Air Force on August 17, 1978, as the F-16A, which is a single-seat aircraft, while the F-16C is a more advanced fighter, and F-16D version is a two-seat aircraft. This combat plane replaced the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter and the Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter as the front-line air-superiority interceptor and fighter in Europe and the USA.

The F-16 Fighting Falcon first saw combat action in January 1991, in Operation Desert Storm, which was the US-led coalition against Iraq. In this armed conflict, it flew more than 13,000 sorties, mostly in the ground-attack role and armed with AGM-65 Maverick air-to-ground missiles. The Fighting Falcon was also used in the US Air Force's bombing raids to strike targets in Yugoslavia in 1999. It would be employed again during the American invasion of Iraq in 2003. Meanwhile, Israel has been using the aircraft to conduct systematic bombing of the Gaza Strip, Syria, Lebanon, and Iran (during the 12-Day War).

The General Dynamics prototype YF-16 in June 1974.

Technical Characteristics

The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is a supersonic, single-engine monoplane of all metal construction. It is fitted with low, cropped delta-wing, which is blended to fuselage. The tail assembly has an all-moving horizontal stabilizer (without elevators). The airframe is made with 75% aluminum, 9% steel, 3.5 % titanium, and composite materials. The aircraft is powered by one Pratt & Whitney F100-P-220 turbofan engine, with afterburner, which can deliver 27,263 pounds of thrust. The engine air intake is located on belly of aircraft. The Fighting Falcon has a boom-type air refueling receptacle. The aircraft is fitted with a Westinghouse AN/APG-68 pulse-Doppler, multi-mode radar.

Specifications (F-16C)

Type: single-seat, multi-role fighter

Length: 15 m (49 feet, 6 inches)

Wing Span: 9.45 m (31 feet)

Wing Area: 28.87 m2 (311 square feet)

Height: 5 m (16 feet, 8 inches)

Power Plant: one 27,263-lb, Pratt & Whitney F100-P-220 turbofan engine.

Maximum Speed: 2,124 km/h (1,320 mph)

Combat Range: 547 km (340 miles)

Service Ceiling: 15,240 m (50,000 feet)

Armament: one internal, six-barrel 20-mm cannon; AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles; AGM-88 air-to-ground missiles; smart glide bombs.

The Fighting Falcon loaded with bombs and armed with air-to-air missiles.

Front view of the F-16C before take-off.

F-16C from NATO country air force in flight

The Lockheed Martin F-16 demonstration (video)

Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II

The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is an American, fifth-generation, all-weather strike-fighter built with stealth technology. Although it is an advanced combat aircraft, with a wide range of capabilities, it lacks the speed and maneuverability of the F-22 Raptor. The F-35 has been in service with the US Marine Corps, the US Air Force, and US Navy since 2015. It is also used by the British RAF and the Royal Navy, as well as by the Japanese, Polish, Israeli, and Australian Air Force. Since 2008, a total of 700+ Lightning II strike-fighters have been produced in three models: the F-35A conventional take-off and landing aircraft for the Air Force, and the carrier-based F-35B short take-off and vertical landing and the F-35C catapult-boosted take-off fighter for the Marine Corps and Navy respectively.

The Lockheed Martin's X-35 prototype had beaten the Boeing X-32 model in the 2001 bid competition for the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Program. Thus, this company was awarded the Department of Defense's contract to build the new stealth fighter aircraft for the US Air Force, US Navy and Marine Corps. The F-35B version of the combat aircraft was introduced into service with the US Marine Corps in 2015, while the F-35A entered service with the US Air Force in 2016 and the F-35C variant was accepted for duty with the US Navy in 2019. Thus, the new multirole fighter will replace all three AV-8B Harrier II, the F-16 Fighting Falcon, and the F/A-18 Super Hornet aircraft. The Lightning II stealth fighter has already been used in combat by the Israeli Air Force in the Twelve Day War to attack land targets in Iran. Currently, it is being used to attack Hamas militant groups positions in Palestine.

Technical Characteristics

The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is a single-seat, single-engine jet monoplane of all-metal construction, using stealth materials and technology. The aircraft is fitted with trapezoidal mid-wing, whose trailing edge has a long aileron but no flaps. The tail assembly is unconventional as it consists of two fins set up obliquely on each side of rear portion of fuselage and two movable, triangular, horizontal planes separated from one another by the engine exhaust. The aircraft was designed to carry weapons internally for stealth. It is powered by one Pratt & Whitney F135 low-bypass turbofan engine, which was developed from the P&W F119 propelling the F-22 Raptor. It has two rectangular air intakes, one on each side of fuselage. The pilot has a helmet-mounted display, with three focal plane array sensors.

Specifications (F-35B STOVL)

Type: fifth-generation, stealth, strike-fighter

Length: 15.39 m (50 feet, 6 inches)

Wing Span: 10.66 m (35 feet)

Wing Area: 42.73 m2 (460 square feet)

Height: 4 m (13 feet, 4 inches)

Power Plant: one 42,075-lb-thrust, Pratt & Whitney F135 turbofan engine.

Maximum Speed: Mach 1.5

Combat Range: 1,112 km (691 miles)

Service Ceiling: 15,000 m (50,000 feet)

Crew: one

Armament: six AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles; two AGM-158 JASSM air-to-ground missiles; or two 907-kg JDAM guided bombs (munitions).

Front view of the F-35 in flight before it was accepted for service.

Above, the prototype X-35 in 2008 flying over California.

The short take-off and vertical landing version of the prototype X-35.

Below, the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II flight demonstration footage

North American F-86D Sabre Dog

The North American F-86D Sabre Dog was a single-seat interceptor aircraft which was in service with the US Air Force during the Cold War. It was also used by the German Luftwaffe, Italian, and French Air Force. Sabre Dogs used by these NATO countries had been produced in Italy by Fiat as the F-86K variant. Both the American and European versions were developed from the F-86A Sabre, which saw combat action in the Korean War. Around 2,800 Sabre Dog interceptor aircraft were produced, with 300 of them being built in Italy under license.

The F-86D was the first all-weather combat aircraft produced by North American. The prototype first flew on December 22, 1949, entering service with the US Air Force in 1951. On November 18, 1952, the Sabre Dog broke a speed record, flying at 698.505 mph (1,124.1 km/h) at 125 feet (38 m) of altitude. Both the F-86D and F-86K were larger versions of their original model, the F-86A fighter, having a longer and stronger fuselage. For the first time in the history of the US Air Force, these interceptors variants were fitted with a radar powerful and efficient enough to enable them to operate day and night and under all weather conditions. It was an AN/APG-37 search radar, which was mounted in the nose of aircraft and had a range of 48 km. By 1955, twenty Wings of the US Air Force had been equipped with this reliable interceptor.

Technical Characteristics

The North American F-86D Sabre Dog was a single-seat, single-engine monoplane. It had an all-metal fuselage and low swept wing, whose trailing edge was fitted with both ailerons and flaps. It had two retractable air brakes, each one located on the side of rear portion of fuselage. The aircraft tail assembly consisted of a swept horizontal stabilizer, which was mounted at the base of a tall vertical fin. The landing gear was retractable, with the main wheels folding up inwardly after take-off into root of wing. The aircraft was powered by one General Electric J47-GE-33 turbojet engine, which generated 7,512 pounds of thrust. The engine air intake was situated under the first portion of fuselage.

Specifications

Type: single-seat jet interceptor

Length: 12.29 m (40 feet, 4 inches)

Wing Span: 11.30 m (37 feet, 1 inch)

Wing Area: 27.76 m2 (299 square feet)

Height: 4.57 m (15 feet)

Power Plant: one 7,512-lb, General Electric J47-GE-33 turbojet engine.

Maximum Speed: 1,138 km/h (707 mph)

Range: 1,344 km (835 miles)

Service Ceiling: 16,640 m (54,593 feet)

Crew: one

Armament: twenty four 70-mm rockets; four 20-mm GE M24 A1 cannons.

The North American F-86D taking off from a California US Air Force base around 1959.

The F-86K, the European version of the Sabre Dog in service with the German Luftwaffe.

A Sabre Dog parked on the tarmac of a US Air Force base

Saab J 32 Lansen

The Saab J 32 Lansen was a second-generation jet fighter and attack aircraft used by the Swedish Air Force during the Cold War. It was the first Swedish combat plane fitted with built-in surveillance and attack radar. The Lansen was a versatile and rugged aircraft that served mainly in the all-weather, attack and night fighter roles, but it was also used as a reconnaissance and electronic interference plane. With its low swept-wing configuration, it resembled the North American F-100 Super Sabre.

The origin of the Saab J 32 Lansen goes back to December 1948, when the Swedish Air Force Board ordered the development of a new, two-seat, single-engine, transonic combat aircraft for attack, reconnaissance, and night fighter use. It was called Project 1150. The first prototype made its maiden flight on November 3, 1951. It was flown by test pilot Bengt Olow. During October 1953, the Lansen became the first Saab aircraft to break the sound barrier, flying at the speed of Mach 1.12. It was introduced into service with the Swedish Air Force in July 1956 as the Saab A 32, the ground-attack version, with 290 aircraft produced. In 1958, the Saab J 32B all-weather night fighter variant was introduced, with a total of 130 combat plane built.

Technical Description

The Saab J 32 Lansen was a two-seat, single-engine monoplane of all-metal construction. It had cantilever swept wing mounted low on the fuselage. The wing trailing edge was fitted with large flaps and hydraulically-controlled ailerons. It had also swept tailplane (horizontal stabilizer), with the same angle of sweep as the wing. The Lansen was equipped with retractable landing gear, with main wheels folding up inwards into root of wing. The aircraft was powered by one Svenska Flygmotor RM6A turbojet engine, which delivered 11,000 pounds of thrust. The engine two air intakes were located on the sides of fuselage.

Specifications

Type: all-weather, two-seat, attack and fighter aircraft

Length: 14.94 m (49 feet)

Wing Span: 13 m (42 feet, 8 inches)

Wing Area: 37.4 m2 (403 square feet)

Height: 4.65 m (15 fee, 3 inches)

Power Plant: one 11,000-lb-thrust, Svenska RM6A turbojet engine with afterburner.

Maximum Speed: 1,200 km/h (750 mph)

Range: 2,000 km (1,200 miles)

Service Ceiling: 15,000 m (49,000 feet)

Crew: 2

Armament: four 30-mm cannons; 75-mm rockets; four Rb-24 air-to-air missiles; three 600-kg bombs.

Front view of the Lansen before take-off.

The Saab J 32B version in flight, banking right.

The Saab 32 reconnaissance version. Notice the radar dome on belly of aircraft.

The Saab J 32 Lansen during an airshow in Sweden (video)