Dassault Mirage IV

Dassault · France · first flew 1959 · bomber

A French twin-engine supersonic strategic bomber, built as the airborne leg of France's independent nuclear deterrent.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, delta
E — Engines	2 × turbojet, fuselage-mounted
F — Fuselage	Two engines side by side with intakes mounted on the fuselage flanks
T — Tail	No tailplane

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

Large tailless delta planform like a scaled-up Mirage III
Two engines side by side with intakes mounted on the fuselage flanks
Long slim two-seat tandem cockpit and a single swept fin

Look for the big tailless delta resembling an enlarged Mirage III, the two side-mounted intakes feeding paired engines, and the slim tandem cockpit.

Specifications

The Dassault Mirage IV has a length of 23.5 m (77 ft).
It has a wingspan of 11.9 m (39 ft).
Its maximum speed is 2340 km/h (1454 mph).
Typical crew: 2.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

First flown in 1959, the Mirage IV scaled up the tailless delta layout of the Mirage III into a two-seat nuclear strike bomber capable of dashing to the target at supersonic speed. It carried France's free-fall and later stand-off nuclear weapons and was supported by air-to-air refuelling for the long-range mission.

Variants

The initial Mirage IVA strike bomber was followed by a number rebuilt as the Mirage IVP to carry the ASMP stand-off missile, with others adapted for strategic reconnaissance.

Where you'll see it

A French Air Force strategic type never operated by Britain, so it was not UK-based; British observers occasionally saw examples visiting air shows during its long career before retirement.

Related aircraft

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