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1952
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Super-Mystère B2 is first European et supersonic at low altitudes. Has even more sweep (45°) and larger combat radius than Mystère IV. Nearly 300 are ordered.
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The genesis of the Mirage III
began with the Korean War, when Russian MiG 15's, simpler and lighter than American F-6's, revealed certain operational advantages. Light fighters thus came into vogue, and for this purpose Dassault had already designed its first delta-winged air craft, the MD 550 or Mirage I. Then, using essentially the same wing but with a larger fuselage housing a more powerful SNECMA engine, a small design team had the first Mirage III ready to fly on Nov. 18, 1956. Its astonishing performance was evident from the beginning. Many nations ordered it in many versions—interceptor, ground attack, reconnaissance, training. With the Mirage III, the French Air force became the world's first to have Mach 2 aircraft in all these roles.
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