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Mirage IV Dassault
Mirage IV
Medium Strategic Bomber

DESCRIPTION:
During the 1950s, France decided to field a long-range manned bomber as part of its nuclear deterrent force. Dassault was chosen to develop this two-seat bomber based on the company's experience with supersonic jets. The final design was based on a twin-engine night-fighter variant of Dassault's Mirage III. The resulting Mirage IV was designed to carry one nuclear bomb in a semi-recessed fuselage bay at high speeds to targets within the Soviet Union. Production of the Mirage IVA bomber was completed in 1968 after 62 had been built.
During the 1970s, the Mirage IV fleet was modified with wing hardpoints so that heavy loads of conventional bombs could also be carried. Modifications were also made to 12 Mirage IVA aircraft that were converted into high-altitude reconnaissance platforms known as the Mirage IVR. This conversion saw the nuclear armament removed in favor of a reconfigurable sensor pod carrying cameras or a SLAR package.
A major upgrade came during the 1980s when 18 Mirage IVA bombers, plus one additional new production airframe, were updated to the Mirage IVP (penetration) standard. The Mirage IVP was armed with one ASMP long-range nuclear cruise missile in place of the bomb carried on earlier models. Additional upgrades made to the Mirage IVP aircraft included a new radar with ground-mapping capabilty and a radar warning receiver.
By 1992, only 13 examples of the Mirage IVP fleet remained. The last of these were removed from service in 1996 when replaced by the Mirage 2000N. Only a handful of the Mirage IVR reconnaissance aircraft are still in use.
Data below for Mirage IVP
Last modified 30 April 2005

HISTORY:

First Flight 17 June 1959

Service Entry

1 October 1964

CREW:

two: pilot, weapon systems officer

ESTIMATED COST:

unknown

AIRFOIL SECTIONS:

Wing Root unknown (3.8%)

Wing Tip unknown (3.2%)

DIMENSIONS:

Length 77.08 ft (23.50 m)

Wingspan 38.88 ft (11.85 m)

Height 18.54 ft (5.65 m)

Wing Area 840 ft² (78.0 m²)

Canard Area

not applicable

WEIGHTS:

Empty 31,965 lb (14,500 kg)

Typical Load unknown

Max Takeoff 72,750 lb (33,000 kg)

Fuel Capacity internal: 3,700 gal (14,000 L)
external: up to two 660 gal (2,500 L) tanks

Max Payload

15,875 lb (7,200 kg)

PROPULSION:

Powerplant two SNECMA Atar 9K-50 afterburning turbojets

Thrust 31,750 lb (141.22 kN)

PERFORMANCE:

Max Level Speed at altitude: 1,220 mph (1,965 km/h) at 60,000 ft (19,685 m), Mach 1.7 [sustained]
1,455 mph (2,340 km/h) at 40,060 ft (13,125 m), Mach 2.2 [dash]
at sea level: 840 mph (1,350 km/h), Mach 1.1

Initial Climb Rate 8,400 ft (2,560 m) / min

Service Ceiling 65,615 ft (20,000 m)

Range typical: 1,340 nm (2,480 km)
ferry: 2,160 nm (4,000 km)

g-Limits unknown

ARMAMENT:

Gun none

Stations five external hardpoints

Air-to-Surface Missile one ASMP nuclear cruise missile, up to four AS.37 Martel

Bomb up to 16 450-kg GP

Other (Mirage IVR) reconnaissance camera/SLAR package

KNOWN VARIANTS:

Mirage IVA Original strategic bomber model carrying one AN22 60-kT free-fall nuclear bomb; 62 built

Mirage IVR High-level reconnaissance model rebuilt from Mirage IVA models; 12 converted

Mirage IVP

Upgraded bomber rebuilt from Mirage IVA models and carrying one 300-kT ASMP missile, updated avionics and computer displays; 18 converted and 1 built

KNOWN COMBAT RECORD: Bosnia - Operation Deliberate Force (France, 1995)
Afghanistan - Operation Enduring Freedom (France, 2001-present)

KNOWN OPERATORS: France, Armée de l'Air (French Air Force)

3-VIEW SCHEMATIC:

Mirage IV

SOURCES:

Bishop, Chris, ed. The Encyclopedia of Modern Military Weapons: The Comprehensive Guide to Over 1,000 Weapon Systems from 1945 to the Present Day. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1999, p. 264.

Donald, David, ed. The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1997, p. 304, Dassault Mirage IV.

Donald, David and Lake, Jon, ed. The Encyclopedia of World Military Aircraft. NY: Barnes & Noble, 2000, p. 126-127, Dassault Mirage IV.

Gunston, Bill, ed. The Encyclopedia of Modern Warplanes. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1995, p. 97, Dassault Mirage IV.

Munro, Bob and Chant, Christopher. Jane's Combat Aircraft. Glasgow: Harper Collins Publishers, 1995, p. 84-85, Dassault Mirage IV.

Rendall, David. Jane's Aircraft Recognition Guide, 2nd ed. London: Harper Collins Publishers, 1999, p. 47, Dassault Mirage IV.

Taylor, Michael. Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1996/1997. London: Brassey's, 1996, p. 36-37, Dassault Mirage IV-P.

Taylor, Michael J. H. Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1999/2000. London: Brassey's, 1999, p. 22, Dassault Mirage IV-P.

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DESCRIPTION: During the 1950s, France decided to field a long-range manned bomber as part of its nuclear deterrent force. Dassault was chosen to develop this two-seat bomber based on the company's experience with supersonic jets. The final design was based on a twin-engine night-fighter variant of Dassault's Mirage III. The resulting Mirage IV was designed to carry one nuclear bomb in a semi-recessed fuselage bay at high speeds to targets within the Soviet Union. Production of the Mirage IVA bomber was completed in 1968 after 62 had been built. During the 1970s, the Mirage IV fleet was modified with wing hardpoints so that heavy loads of conventional bombs could also be carried. Modifications were also made to 12 Mirage IVA aircraft that were converted into high-altitude reconnaissance platforms known as the Mirage IVR. This conversion saw the nuclear armament removed in favor of a reconfigurable sensor pod carrying cameras or a SLAR package. A major upgrade came during the 1980s when 18 Mirage IVA bombers, plus one additional new production airframe, were updated to the Mirage IVP (penetration) standard. The Mirage IVP was armed with one ASMP long-range nuclear cruise missile in place of the bomb carried on earlier models. Additional upgrades made to the Mirage IVP aircraft included a new radar with ground-mapping capabilty and a radar warning receiver. By 1992, only 13 examples of the Mirage IVP fleet remained. The last of these were removed from service in 1996 when replaced by the Mirage 2000N. Only a handful of the Mirage IVR reconnaissance aircraft are still in use. Data below for Mirage IVP Last modified 30 April 2005
HISTORY:
First Flight	17 June 1959
Service Entry	1 October 1964
CREW:	two: pilot, weapon systems officer
ESTIMATED COST:	unknown
AIRFOIL SECTIONS:
Wing Root	unknown (3.8%)
Wing Tip	unknown (3.2%)
DIMENSIONS:
Length	77.08 ft (23.50 m)
Wingspan	38.88 ft (11.85 m)
Height	18.54 ft (5.65 m)
Wing Area	840 ft² (78.0 m²)
Canard Area	not applicable
WEIGHTS:
Empty	31,965 lb (14,500 kg)
Typical Load	unknown
Max Takeoff	72,750 lb (33,000 kg)
Fuel Capacity	internal: 3,700 gal (14,000 L) external: up to two 660 gal (2,500 L) tanks
Max Payload	15,875 lb (7,200 kg)
PROPULSION:
Powerplant	two SNECMA Atar 9K-50 afterburning turbojets
Thrust	31,750 lb (141.22 kN)
PERFORMANCE:
Max Level Speed	at altitude: 1,220 mph (1,965 km/h) at 60,000 ft (19,685 m), Mach 1.7 [sustained] 1,455 mph (2,340 km/h) at 40,060 ft (13,125 m), Mach 2.2 [dash] at sea level: 840 mph (1,350 km/h), Mach 1.1
Initial Climb Rate	8,400 ft (2,560 m) / min
Service Ceiling	65,615 ft (20,000 m)
Range	typical: 1,340 nm (2,480 km) ferry: 2,160 nm (4,000 km)
g-Limits	unknown
ARMAMENT:
Gun	none
Stations	five external hardpoints
Air-to-Surface Missile	one ASMP nuclear cruise missile, up to four AS.37 Martel
Bomb	up to 16 450-kg GP
Other	(Mirage IVR) reconnaissance camera/SLAR package
KNOWN VARIANTS:
Mirage IVA	Original strategic bomber model carrying one AN22 60-kT free-fall nuclear bomb; 62 built
Mirage IVR	High-level reconnaissance model rebuilt from Mirage IVA models; 12 converted
Mirage IVP	Upgraded bomber rebuilt from Mirage IVA models and carrying one 300-kT ASMP missile, updated avionics and computer displays; 18 converted and 1 built
KNOWN COMBAT RECORD:	Bosnia - Operation Deliberate Force (France, 1995) Afghanistan - Operation Enduring Freedom (France, 2001-present)
KNOWN OPERATORS:	France, Armée de l'Air (French Air Force)
3-VIEW SCHEMATIC:
SOURCES: Bishop, Chris, ed. The Encyclopedia of Modern Military Weapons: The Comprehensive Guide to Over 1,000 Weapon Systems from 1945 to the Present Day. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1999, p. 264. Donald, David, ed. The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1997, p. 304, Dassault Mirage IV. Donald, David and Lake, Jon, ed. The Encyclopedia of World Military Aircraft. NY: Barnes & Noble, 2000, p. 126-127, Dassault Mirage IV. Gunston, Bill, ed. The Encyclopedia of Modern Warplanes. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1995, p. 97, Dassault Mirage IV. Munro, Bob and Chant, Christopher. Jane's Combat Aircraft. Glasgow: Harper Collins Publishers, 1995, p. 84-85, Dassault Mirage IV. Rendall, David. Jane's Aircraft Recognition Guide, 2nd ed. London: Harper Collins Publishers, 1999, p. 47, Dassault Mirage IV. Taylor, Michael. Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1996/1997. London: Brassey's, 1996, p. 36-37, Dassault Mirage IV-P. Taylor, Michael J. H. Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1999/2000. London: Brassey's, 1999, p. 22, Dassault Mirage IV-P.