- Yes, as a separate aircraft
- Yes, as a researchable modification for the existing Israeli Mystère IVA
- Yes, as a complete replacement of the existing Mystère IVA
- No
Introduction
The Dassault MD.454 Mystère IVA was one of the most revolutionary aircraft to serve with the Israeli Air Force, being the IAF’s first swept winged fighter jet, first trans-sonic fighter jet in service with it and the first fighter jet to feature the punchy 30mm DEFA cannons. While it was originally used as a frontline fighter, the acquisition of more capable aircraft shifted the Mystère IVA to a secondary ground attack role and led to the specific modification relevant to this suggestion that saw the installation of a brake chute mechanism on this aircraft in Israeli Air Force service.
Disclaimers
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This modification of the Mystère IVA in Israeli service never received a specific name, which is why the title for this suggestion is very literal.
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This modification is presented as a suggestion and not a historical report as Israeli Mystère IVAs did not have it from the get-go, meaning there technically is room for both variations of the Mystère IVA to exist in War Thunder.
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I have included in the poll several options for methods of implementation for this modification, as I presume for most people it would seem unnecessary to turn such a minor modification into a completely separate aircraft. Additionally, it would be best for the developers to be able to see where the consensus lies in regards to the preferable way for this modification to be implemented in the game
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Since the Mystère IVA has a long history behind it, both on the development side and operational side, I’ve limited the history of this post to focus primarily on the service history of this aircraft with the relevant modification in the Israeli Air Force. I do however recommend to seek out and read up further on it’s development and service history using the sources at the bottom of the post.
The following pair of photos are presented here for comparison of the Mystère IVA model that already exists in War Thunder and the modification suggested here. You can see here the original tail section (first photo) and the modified tail section (second photo). Note the addition of a prominent tail bullet just below the rudder in the second photo and lack of said component in the first one.
Technical information
To clear any potential confusion, here is a summarized explanation of what the modification is and how it is relevant in a game like War Thunder in terms of the airframe model and gameplay.
This modification essentially sees the alteration of the Mystère IVA’s tail section with the addition of a large tail bullet just below the aircraft’s rudder, bearing the same design as the one found on the Super Mystère B2. This tail bullet, same as with the Super Mystère B2, houses a break chute used to shorten the landing run of the aircraft. This functionality is of course present in War Thunder in aircraft that have break chutes and can be used to make landings much faster and to make landings on short runways easier. The addition of the tail bullet also incurred a slight weight increase for the aircraft, although the exact figure isn’t clear. One of the sources mentions the Mystère IVA in Indian Air Force service, which also received this modification, as weighing 70kg heavier than the original version, however the Indian version of the aircraft also saw the replacement of some of the aircraft’s French systems with British ones, and so it can’t be used as a proper reference point for the weight difference. Additionally, while I unfortunately could not find photos of this, it stands to reason that the addition of a break chute also necessitated the addition of a break chute activation in the cockpit in order to release it. In Indian Air Force Mystère IVAs that had the same modification it was implemented via an arming switch added just below and to the right of the cockpit’s tachometer, as can be seen with the schematic below from the Indian Air Force’s pilot’s book:
Source: Indian Air Force Mystère IVA Pilot’s Handbook.
In this photo a mechanic is seen installing the break chute in the modified tail bullet of an Israeli Mystère IVA of the 116th squadron.
In short, the modification sees the addition of a tail bullet to the aircraft’s airframe model, a break chute arming switch to the cockpit model, a rough estimate of 70kg increase in the aircraft’s weight and the addition of a break chute mechanism.
Israeli Mystère IVA number 71 of the 116th squadron landing with the break chute in Tel Nof Air base during the Six Day War victory parade in 1968. Note the inner wing pylons mounting a pair of 625 liter external fuel tanks.
Early History
During the mid 1950’s the Israeli Air Force sought to modernize it’s fleet of combat aircraft that at the time consisted of relatively aged propeller driven aircraft and a small number of Meteor and Ouragan jet fighters. Specifically, the IAF required a swept winged jet fighter that could match the future acquisitions of MiG-15 and MiG-17s by Israel’s neighboring countries, primarily Egypt. After looking into options such as the Swedish Saab J29 and the North American F-86 Saber the Israeli Air Force ended up trialing and signing a series of contracts from mid to late 1954 for the acquisition of several dozen French Dassault Mystère IIC fighter jets. This sale however was never completed as many delays and rising tensions in the Middle East caused the Israelis and the French to revise the deal, instead seeing the Israelis acquire additional Ouragan jet fighters as a stop gap measure and replacing the Mystère IICs in the sale with the more advanced Mystère IVA. The Mystère IVAs were finally delivered in two main batches arriving in Israel in April and August of 1956 as well as an additional airframe modified for reconnaissance purposes delivered in September 1956, with a total of 61 airframes acquired. The Mystère IVAs went on to be used as Israel’s primary frontline fighter during the Suez Crisis driven Sinai War (operation Kadesh) in late October to early November of 1956, in which it achieved several aerial victories earning it the nickname “The Sinai Jet” in media publications which followed the conflict.
A rare phot of an Israeli Mystère IVA in the early color scheme that had received the break chute modification as can be seen with the presence of the tail bullet on the aircraft. The squadron symbol of the 109th squadron that it served under was removed from the photo by the IDF censorship.
Late History & Modification
As the Israeli Air Force acquired more advanced airframes during the late 50’s including the Super Mystère B2 and Vautour the Mystère IVA’s role was shifted from a frontline fighter into a light attack aircraft throughout the early 1960’s. During this time period the Israeli Air Force carried out several modifications aimed at increasing the efficiency of the Mystère IVA in this new role.
First, the ground attack armaments which it had access to in it’s early service consisting mostly of ground attack SNEB and T-10 rockets was expanded to also include IMI made general purpose 250kg and 500kg bombs as well as Napalm bombs and eventually runway penetration bombs (famously used in operation Focus in 1967).
Then the Air Force tested using Mystère IVA number 30 the potential installation of JATO rocket boosters to decrease takeoff time and runway length, a modification which unfortunately did not enter operational service as the results were not significant enough to justify the logistical and technical complications associated.
Finally, the Mystère IVA airframes were modified over time to install a tail bullet of the same design as the Super Mystère B2 that included a break chute mechanism, making landing runs much shorter and decreasing service time between combat sorties. This final modification was carried out around the same time that Mystère IVAs began being repainted with the new Israeli Air force blue/brown bicolor camouflage without a standardized order, and so there were both cases of Mystère IVAs with the old decorated silver paint scheme having the modified tail section as well as Mystère IVAs with the new camouflage that did not have the modified tail section yet.
Israeli Mystère IVA number 82 during a landing with the breaking chute, showing the open tail bullet. Note that in this photo the aircraft is using the late Tricolor camo used by Israeli Mystère IVAs near the end of their service.
By the time the 1967 Six Day War broke out the break chute modification was standardized and possessed by all Mystère IVA airframes in IAF service. The Mystère IVA fleet at the time had also been reduced to just 33 airframes for various reasons including accidents and aircraft lost in combat over the 11 year long period of their service at that point. During Operation Focus 32 of these airframes were used to bombard 6 designated Egyptian airbases. During operation focus three Mystère IVAs had managed to score air to air kills, two against Egyptian MiG-17Fs and one against a Jordanian Hawker Hunter. The addition of the break chute to the aircraft proved invaluable during Operation Focus as it allowed the downtime of the aircraft between sorties to be minimized. The Mystère IVAs continued to be used during the rest of the conflict for CAS and BAI missions.
A very rare photo showing an Israeli Mystère IVA dropping a 70kg PAPAM runway penetration bomb. This bomb type, also know as “dibber bombs”, was co-developed by the French Matra and Israeli IMI companies as bombs that were highly effective at cratering hardened concrete runways, using a mechanism that first deployed a parachute to point the bomb down at an optimal angle and then ignited rocket boosters that shot the bombs into the concrete, penetrating it prior to detonation. These bombs were famously used in June 5th 1967 on most of the available airframe types used in Operation Focus in order to crater the runways of air bases used by the coalition of Arab forces in the war.
The Mystère IVAs continued to be used throughout the following War of Attrition that was fought between 1967 and 1970 across the Suez Canal against Egypt. At the time the Mystère IVA was nearing the end of it’s service with the Israeli Air Force as it was being gradually replaced by the superior American A-4 Skyhawk, but continued to be used for combat sorties on a limited basis. During that time period some Mystère IVA airframes were painted with the more modern Israeli Air Force Tricolor desert camouflage. The Mystère IVA was officially retired from service on the 18th of March 1971, although at least a couple dozen examples were kept in storage in a flightworthy state for several years following that. Today several ex-Israeli Air Force Mystère IVAs are displayed in the Israeli Air Force museum and other heritage sites across Israel as well as a single example displayed at the Chilean National Aviation and Space museum in Santiago, all of which posses the modified tail section suggested in this post.
Another photo showing a landing with the break chute, this time of Mystère IVA number 80 (the prefixes sometimes added to Mystère IVAs in Israeli service were often added in photoshoots to help hide the number of airframes in service, in reality all Mystère IVAs in Israeli service had merely a two digit serial number as only a total of 61 airframes were in service).
Potential in War Thunder
While the modification presented here is very minor and does not deviate much from the Mystère IVA already found in both the French and Israeli tech trees, it does present a net upgrade over the already existing airframe model and could add a flair of uniqueness compared to the French tech tree example. This is why I believe it is worth considering implementing this modification in some form, whether by adding it as a completely separate aircraft or by changing the existing Mystère IVA in the Israeli tech tree in some way in order to include it.
The armament selection of the Mystère IVA in Israeli service.
Specifications
Type: Single Seat Fighter-Bomber
Country of origin: France
Length: 12.98 meters
Height: 4.46 meters
Wingspan: 11.12 meters
Powerplant: Hispano-Suiza Verdon 253
Max speed: 1,120 km/h
Range: 1,300 km
Weight: Empty - 5,875 kg, Fully loaded - 9,820 kg
Armaments: A pair of 30mm DEFA 552 cannons with 150 rounds per gun, 4 underwing pylons for carriage of External fuel tanks (625 liters), G.P bombs (250kg, 500kg), Napalm bombs (300 liters), Runway penetration bombs (70kg PAPAM) and rockets (T-10, SNEB) up to a weight of 900 kg. It was never equipped with any AA missiles in Israeli service.
Additional information: In Israeli service it had been implemented with a drag chute in the early 1960’s. Additionally it was tested with takeoff boosters in the late 50’s.
Sources
Spoiler
Amazon.com: Dassault Mystere IV: In Israeli Air Force service eBook : Weiss, Ra'anan, Aloni, Shlomo, Feldman, Ron: חנות קינדל
https://www.amazon.fr/Chasseurs-Dassault-Ouragans-Mystères-Super-Mystères/dp/B002DFH7BU?language=en_GB
Air War on the Edge: A History of the Israel Air Force and It's Aircraft Since 1947: Norton, Bill: 9781857800883: Amazon.com: Books
מיסטר - מרקיע שחקים
https://www.iaf.org.il/183-16708-en/IAF.aspx?indx=2
https://www.iaflibrary.org.il/Product.asp?ProdID=907
IDF/AF First jets - Meteor, Ouragan, Mystere, Super Mystere & Vautour Facebook group
