| Dassault Mirage G | |
|---|---|
 | |
| The Dassault Mirage G8-01 and G-8-02 prototypes in flight. The G8-01's wings are swept. | |
| Role | Swing-wing multirole fighter |
| Manufacturer | Dassault Aviation |
| First flight | 18 November 1967 |
| Status | Cancelled in the 1970s |
| Primary user | French Air Force |
| Number built | 3 |
| Developed from | Dassault Mirage F2 |
The Dassault Mirage G was a French two-seat twin-engined variable-geometry prototype fighter, built by Dassault Aviation in the late 1960s. The aircraft was further developed into the twin-engine Mirage G4 and G8 variants as a multi-role jet fighter capable of both interception and nuclear strike missions. Although Dassault built and flew prototypes, the entire programme was terminated in the 1970s without the aircraft entering production.[1]
Development[]
In 1964 the French defence ministry requested a development programme on variable-sweep wing aircraft for dual land and aircraft carrier use. France had participated with the Anglo-French Variable Geometry aircraft (AFVG) before abandoning their interest; later Dassault received an order for a prototype, powered by a single Pratt & Whitney/SNECMA TF-306 turbofan in October 1965.[2] The first variable-sweep aircraft from Dassault emerged as the single-engined, two-seat Mirage G fighter in 1967, essentially a swept wing version of the Mirage F2. The wings were swept at 22 degrees when fully forward and 70 degrees when fully aft and featured full-span double-slotted trailing edge flaps and two-position leading edge flaps.[3]
Flight trials were relatively successful but no production order ensued, the Mirage G programme being cancelled in 1968.[2] Flying with the Mirage G continued however until 13 January 1971 when the sole prototype was lost in an accident.
Variants[]
Mirage G4[]
The basic Mirage G was developed into a twin-engine, two-seat nuclear strike fighter, the Mirage G4 after a separate contract was issued in 1968 for two aircraft to be built. These aircraft were intended to be powered by Snecma M53 turbojets in production.[2] While the aircraft were under construction the requirements changed and the French military requested that the design be converted into a dedicated interceptor.[2]
Mirage G8[]
Mirage G4-01 was redesignated G8-01 and remained a two-seat aircraft (first flight 8 May 1971) with the second aircraft, G4-02 becoming a single-seat version, G8-02 (first flight 13 July 1972).[2] The G8 variants were equipped with Thomson-CSF radar and a low-altitude navigational-attack system based on that used in the SEPECAT Jaguar and Dassault Milan.[1][2] As no funding was included for the Mirage G8 in the 1971-1976 French defence budget the aircraft did not enter production.[1]
Aircraft on display[]
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Dassault Mirage G8-01 is on public display at the Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace near Paris.[4]
Specifications (Mirage G8-02)[]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 18.80 m (61 ft 8 in)
- Wingspan: 15.40 m (50 ft 6 in) spread, 8.70 m (28 ft 7 in) swept
- Height: 5.35 m (17 ft 7 in)
- Empty weight: 14,740 kg (32,496 lb)
- Powerplant: 2 × SNECMA Atar 9K50 after-burning turbojet engines, 49.03 kN (11,020 lbf) thrust each dry, 70.1 kN (15,800 lbf) with afterburner
Performance
- Maximum speed: Mach 2.2
- Range: 3,850 km (2,392 mi; 2,079 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 18,500 m (60,696 ft)
See also[]
- Dassault Mirage F2
- General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark
- Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23
- Panavia Tornado
- F-14 Tomcat
- List of fighter aircraft
- List of military aircraft of France
References[]
Notes[]
Bibliography[]
- Green, William. The Observer's Book of Aircraft. London. Frederick Warne & Co. Ltd., 1968.
- Green, William. The Observer's Book of Aircraft. London. Frederick Warne & Co. Ltd., 1972. ISBN 0-7232-1507-3
External links[]
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