Mystère

The Dassault MD.452 Mystère was the first French jet fighter to achieve true supersonic performance in level flight. Developed in the early 1950s as a successor to the Ouragan, the Mystère entered service with the French Air Force in 1955 and later saw export to several allied nations, including Israel, India, and Switzerland. Powered by a single Rolls‑Royce Nene or later a SNECMA Atar 101 turbojet, the aircraft could reach speeds just above Mach 1.1 at altitude, a notable achievement for its time. Its thin, swept‑wing layout and all‑metal stressed‑skin construction provided excellent maneuverability and high‑altitude capability, while a versatile armament suite—typically two 30 mm cannons and optional rockets or bombs—allowed it to perform both air‑to‑air and ground‑attack missions. The Mystère’s operational record, especially during the 1956 Suez Crisis and the 1967 Six‑Day War, demonstrated the reliability of French jet technology and paved the way for the more advanced Mirage series. As a transitional design, the Mystère bridged the gap between early subsonic jets and the later generation of supersonic combat aircraft, cementing Dassault’s reputation as a world‑leading fighter manufacturer. Its legacy endures in modern aeronautical engineering curricula and museum displays worldwide.

Dassault Aviation

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