- Yes
- No
- AN/APG-33 version (base version, radar of the F-86D)
- AN/APG-40 version (improved AN/APG-33, experimental)
- Aladin testbed (pointy is scary)
- Aïda testbed (Etendard’s radar)
- I said no
- 8.0
- 8.3
- 8.7
- 9.0
- 9.3
- Other (specify below)
- I said no
- Tech tree
- Squadron
- Premium
- Event
- Other (specify below)
- I said no
Introduction and overview
Hello everyone, today I would like to suggest the Dassault Mystère IVN, a french prototype of night fighter. The Mystère IVN was a derivative of the Mystère IV designed to carry a radar and carry on night fighting and interception missions.
History and design
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Predecessors: M.D.451 Aladin and M.D.453 Mystère III
The M.D.454 was designed in the early 1950s as a day jet fighter. It first flew in 1952, and the first Mystère IVA (the serial version) flew in 1954. It was operated by the Armée de l’Air as well as several foreign forces.
In the same time, Dassault was trying to develop night fighters from its day fighter versions. A M.D.450 Ouragan was first modified into the M.D.450-30L, a demonstrator of the proposed M.D.451 “Aladin” night fighter. It featured side intakes instead of the nose intake, to accomodate a radome in the nose. The four 20mm guns of the Ouragan were also replaced by two 30mm DEFAs. The prototype first flew in 1952.
That aircraft was unfortunately too heavy and the nose wasn’t large enough for existing radars, which led to the cancellation of the program in 1951, in favor of the M.D.453 “Mystère III”. That aircraft was similar to the M.D.450-30L, but based on the M.D.452 Mystère II instead of the Ouragan. It also featured slightly thinner and more sweeped wings, and was a tandem seater. Its prototype flew later in 1952.
The Mystère III was itself cancelled in favor of the Mystère IVN, an equivalent based on the M.D.454 Mystère IV.
The Mystère IVN
The Mystère IVN was based on the Mystère IVB, a two seater experimental variant of the Mystère IVA. Like it, it had a Avon RA.7R afterburning turbojet instead of the usual Hispano-Suiza Verdon 350, and a tandem cockpit.
But the most remarkable modifications were those related to its night fighter role. Unlike its predecessors, it had a ventral intake instead of side intakes. In combination with the black nose radome, this made it look a lot like a Sabredog from the front.
The prototype could receive similar armament to the Mystère IVA, with room for two 30mm cannons and a rack of 55 SNEB rockets. It is possible it was capable of using the rest of the Mystère IVA’s arsenal (bombs, AA-20s…) but that isn’t certain. There are no known test runs of the armament by the prototype. It should be noted as well that the gun ports aren’t visible in many pictures. This is because they were removed at some point during trials.
Although two prototypes were ordered in May 1954, the second was quickly cancelled and only one prototype was built, the Mystère IVN-01. The Mystère IVN began test flights in July 1954. Quickly after, during the 13th test flight, the aircraft reached its record speed of mach 1.1.
In May 1955, pilot Jacqueline Auriol beat the feminine speed record at the time, reaching 1151 km/h aboard Mystère IVN-01.Several radars were trialed. First, in 1954, the AN/APG-33 (the radar used by the F-86D and F-94) and the AN/APG-40 (an experimental improvement of the AN/APG-33). Those gave unsatisfactory results. Then, french-built radars, the experimental Aladin radar and the Aïda radar later installed on the Etendard IVM. For those, its round nose was replaced by a pointy one to have sufficient room.
In the end, the Armée de l’Air preferred the SNCASO S.O.4050 Vautour IIN over it. The Mystère IVN program was cancelled, and the prototype spent the rest of its carrier as a testbed for radars and ejection seats. After that, the aircraft was retired, and is now at the Conservatoire de l’air et de l’espace d’Aquitaine (CAEA).
Specifications
Spoiler
General
Length: 14.70 m
Wingspan: 11.12 m
Heigth: 4.60 m
Wing surface: 32 m²Empty weight: 7.4 t
Max weight:: 11 tPerformance
Engine: Avon RA.7R axial flow turbojet with afterburner
Dry thrust: 3334 kgf (33 kN, 7350 lbf)
Afterburner thrust: 4332 kgf (42 kN, 9550 lbf)Top speed: 1165 km/h (630 kt)
Maximum mach number: 1.1 or higher (Mach 1.1 achieved in a test flight)Armament
No known weapon tests. Like the base Mystère IVA, it was able to be fitted with the following armament:
- 2x 30mm DEFA 552 (probably 150 rounds per gun like others DEFA equipped fighters of the time)
- 52-55x 68mm Matra SNEB rockets in a retractable tray under the fuselage
Radars fitted:
- AN/APG-33
- AN/APG-40
- Aladin
- Aïda
The Mystère IVN in the game
Spoiler
While it remained a prototype, the Mystère IVN is still an important part of the history of French fighters. It was the last of Dassault’s attempt at developing a night fighter from the Mystère family, and represents an indigenous equivalent to the F-86K already in the tree.
In game, this aircraft would be an interesting sidegrade to the Mystère family. It would have access to a nose-mounted radar, and while the airframe would be significantly heavier than the Mystère IVA, that flaw would be compensated by a far better engine.
Finally, to anyone wondering why I suggested this aircraft rather than the M.D.450-30L or the M.D.453, this is because those were never fitted with a radar. The Mystère IVN was the only one that could really use a radar, and so it would be the most viable option for the game.
Images
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^ Mystère IVN in basic configuration.
^ Jacqueline Auriol in front of Mystère IVN. Notice the gun port visible on the side of the fuselage, something that isn’t present on many pictures.
^ Mystère IVN with redesigned pointy nose, used during trials of Aladin and Aïda radar.
^ Mystère IVN at the CAEA.
Sources (info)
That’s it, thank you for reading my suggestion! If anything, I hope you learnt something interesting :3