How many French does it take to defend Paris?
- Nobody knows, they never succeeded.
The French do not fight well, but French technology fights well. Combat aircraft "Dassault Aviation" is distinguished by one important feature: each of the models released has an amazing victorious history!
When Soviet and American aircraft manufacturers were forced to "promote" their goods using loud slogans, political leverage, or even supply the allies with rare equipment in the form of "fraternal aid" and deliberately bad loans, French planes without further ado bought dozens of countries at all continents of the Earth.
The reputation did not need praises and airshow stands. In terms of the number of wars won and air victories won, the Dassault aircraft had no competitors throughout the second half of the twentieth century. Whoever sat at the helm of the Mysters, Mirages and Hurricanes - the victory was in his pocket.
The real benefit turned out to be more expensive than all political considerations: the French armed everyone who was willing to pay. Mirages were bought by pro-Soviet Libya, pro-American Australia, neutral Switzerland, and distant Brazil. And, of course, troubled Israel - it was the Hel-Avir pilots who made a deafening advertisement for French aircraft.
On June 5, 1967, in three hours of hostilities, Israeli aviation destroyed 19 airfields and disabled over 300 Arab aircraft. Those of the few who managed to rise into the air were again thrown from heaven to earth - Dassault Mister IV, Mirage-IIICJ and MD-450 "Hurricane" captured absolute air supremacy.
The main character is undoubtedly the legendary Mirage. A fighter with a delta wing, which became a symbol of the rebirth of France from the decline and shame of the past world war.
I saw "Mirage" - do not take a turn
Soviet military advisers recommended using the following tactics: a lightning strike from an advantageous position and an immediate exit from the battle on afterburner, using the best thrust-to-weight ratio of the MiG-21. Otherwise, "the manufacturer does not bear responsibility": the Mirage-IIICJ was not much inferior in maneuverability to the MiG, while it had the most powerful cannon armament (2x30 mm built-in DEFA cannons versus one 23 mm GSh-23). The lower thrust-to-weight ratio and the limit on permissible overload (6, 7g versus 8, 5g for the MiG-21) were compensated by competent tactics, experience and better training of the Israeli Air Force pilots.
All this gave a logical result: on July 30, 1970, during the famous battle over the Sinai desert, Israeli fighters shot down five MiGs under the control of Soviet pilots, without losses on their part.
Mirage IIIСJ of the 101st Squadron of the Israeli Air Force with marks of 13 air victories won
Now it becomes obvious - the designers of Dassault Aviation managed to create the most balanced fighter of the 2nd generation. Unlike the French, the Yankees rushed to bet on long-range aerial combat with the use of rocket weapons - and lost. The level of technology of the 60s turned out to be insufficient to translate such an idea into reality. Heavy "Phantoms" had a hard time in the "dog dumps", where the light, maneuverable MiG often became the winner. At the same time, the Soviet approach to the creation of a 2nd generation fighter also cannot be considered rational: the primitive RP-21 radar sight (later - the Sapphire radar) and only two short-range missiles - this was clearly not enough.
Unlike the light, swift MiG, "sharpened" for short-range combat with cannon armament, the French fighter was equipped with an effective missile system:
- radar station Thompson-CTF "Cyrano" with an instrumental range of 50 km (radar RP-22 "Sapphire" - 30 km, while the real range of both was 2 times less). In addition to detecting air targets, the "Cyrano" radar had an "air-to-surface" mode: warning of obstacles exceeding a given height and detection of radio-contrast objects on the earth's surface;
- Mirage-III became one of the first fighters in the world to receive an indicator on the windshield (ILS). The system, designated CSF97, made it possible to reduce the information load on the pilot, who now did not have to periodically break away from monitoring the air situation and look at the dashboard. The piloting of the fighter has been simplified, its efficiency has increased in air combat and when attacking ground targets;
- three air-to-air missiles in addition to two standard Sidewinders with IR seeker, the Matra R.511 (or R.530) with a semi-active radar seeker and a powerful rod warhead weighing 30 kg was suspended on the central ventral unit.
Among other French surprises, the Mirage's standard kit included the SEPR 841 (or 844) reusable rocket booster, which used nitric acid as an oxidizing agent (ordinary kerosene served as the second component). 80 seconds of solid fire! The practical ceiling of the Mirage lay above 22,000 meters, the dynamic ceiling reached 29,000 meters.
Dassault Mirage IIIS of the Swiss Air Force
The tasks of the multipurpose fighter were not limited to intercepting air targets. Within half an hour, five technicians could turn the Mirage into an attack aircraft or bomber by installing an outboard cannon container, an additional 340 L fuel tank (instead of a rocket accelerator), bombs on the ventral pylon and NAR blocks on the underwing suspension points.
A bright victorious history, high flight characteristics, perfect avionics, a wide range of ammunition, sets of quick-detachable equipment (computers, PTB, aerial photography equipment) - all this contributed to the wild success of the Mirages with foreign customers. Some aircraft, at the request of the customer, could be equipped with an in-flight refueling system. There were special reconnaissance modifications with the "R" index, including the most advanced modification for the French Air Force - the Mirage-IIIRD with side-looking radar. On the basis of the standard design, the supersonic "vertical" Mirage-IIIV was created (however, it did not find success with the customers).
The economic factor was also important: the Mirage-III was two times cheaper than the American Phantom (≈1 million dollars against 2.4 million dollars in 1965 prices). It was also easier to operate and less demanding on the quality of airfields (the pressure in the tires of the chassis wheels was only 5, 6 - 9, 5 kg / sq. Cm).
The French took special care of "our little brothers". For those who lacked either intelligence or talent even to serve a simple, like a stool, Mirage-III, its more simplified version "Mirage-5" was created.
Radar "Cyrano" was replaced by a primitive station "Aida", other components of the aircraft underwent total simplification. Most of the "Mirages-5" were delivered without a radar at all - to the vacant space under the nose cone, the electronic equipment units migrated from the behind-the-cockpit compartment, where an additional fuel tank was located. The internal fuel supply increased by 32%, the labor intensity of maintenance was reduced to a ridiculous 15 man-hours per 1 hour of flight. The result is a cheap and angry tool for violent regional "showdowns". Its customers were also matched - Zaire, Colombia, Gabon, Libya, Venezuela, Pakistan …
However, the Mirage-5 was not created for third world countries. Initially, the Israeli Air Force showed interest in this machine, which needed an unpretentious attack aircraft for operations in the daytime, in the cloudless sky of Palestine. After the 1968 embargo, Israel, with the help of Mossad agents, stole the technical documentation for the Mirage-5 and started unlicensed production of it under the designation IAI Nesher. In the late 70s, Israeli cars underwent a major overhaul and were sold to Argentina, changing their name to Dagger. During their long career, the "Nesher" / "Daggers" still managed to show off in the Falklands, having bombed a dozen ships of the British squadron!
Dagger (Nesher, Mirage 5) of the Argentine Air Force. The black silhouette of the attacked ship is visible in the bow.
The first pre-production Mirage-IIIA took off on May 12, 1958. Serial production lasted 29 years - from 1960 to 1989. Various variants of the fighter were in service with 20 countries of the world. The licensed assembly of "Mirages" was carried out in Australia and Switzerland, unlicensed - in Israel (IAI Nesher and IAI Kfir).
The Mirage III was the best achievement of the Dassault Aviation. But not the only French masterpiece!
Ship hunters
It happens that a defeat in a war is worth a real victory. For one beaten, two unbeaten give - this is exactly what the events in the South Atlantic demonstrated, when the Argentine military aircraft almost defeated the British fleet.
The Falklands Conflict (1982) was a new triumph for French arms. And even if this time the victory went to the enemy, but how beautifully they lost! All the world's TV channels watched footage of the burning destroyer Sheffield and the charred bulk of the helicopter carrier Atlantic Conveyor.
The Argentines had only five serviceable Dassault-Breguet Super Étendard and five Exocet anti-ship missiles to them. Five shots. Three hits. Two trophies. There were no losses on the Argentine side.
It is easy to imagine how events could develop if all 14 ordered Super Etendars and 24 AM.39 Exocet missiles had arrived in Argentina! The British squadron would have perished in full force in the vast Atlantic.
For the general hysteria surrounding the death of Sheffield, no one paid attention to the fact that the missile that hit the target did not explode. However, the reliability of fuses has always been a sore point for ammunition developers. The Falklands events once again raised the tarnished status of the French aircraft industry to heights: orders for the Exocet anti-ship missiles were poured out as if from a cornucopia.
"Dassault-Breguet Super Etendard" Argentine Navy
Of no less interest was the carrier itself - a supersonic fighter-bomber "Super Etendar" ("etendar" in French means "battle banner"). The world's first specialized carrier of anti-ship missiles among tactical aircraft. The powerful Agava radar, supersonic speed, in-flight refueling system, ground and aircraft carrier bases - there were plenty of trump cards.
Fighter-bombers of this type are still in service with the naval forces of France and Argentina. The French Super Etendars periodically operate from the deck of the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier; the last time they went into battle was in 2011, during the NATO operation against Libya.
Alas, "Combat Banner" has not won much success on the international arms market. In addition to the aforementioned Argentina, only Saddam Hussein was interested in the remarkable fighter-bomber - in the early 80s. The Iraqi Air Force has leased five French Super Etendars.
The reason for the poor export of the "Super Etendars" has nothing to do with flaws in its design. The specialized carrier-based missile carrier was not bad. But the French firm "Dassault" could offer customers something more interesting.
Verified killer
The hum of aircraft engines, gushing blood, crunching sand on his teeth and shooting until he turned blue - the war became his home.
The massacre in Western Sahara, the civil war in Angola, the Ecuadorian-Peruvian conflict of Alto Senepa, the Libyan-Child war, the eight-year Iranian-Iraqi massacre, the Gulf War, military clashes between the Greek and Turkish air forces over the Aegean Sea, and again - Libya, where during the civil war, "F1 Mirages" were used by both sides.
This was another masterpiece of the Dassault company, which absorbed the richest experience of the French aircraft industry. The old Mirage-III was revived in a new look: a classic layout, a new modification of the proven Atar-09C turbojet engine, a modern version of the Cyrano radar (IV, IVM or IVMR) with new functions and increased detection range. Digital avionics, new high-precision weapons and high thrust-to-weight ratio. The combat radius has doubled. Duty time in the air has tripled!
The Mirage F1 was adopted by the Air Force in 14 countries around the world. By the end of the twentieth century, multi-role fighter-bombers of this type were gradually replaced by the more modern Mirage-2000, however, the air forces of five states continue to operate this legendary air assassin with his hands up to his elbows in blood.
One of the most powerful episodes in the combat career of Mirage F1 is associated with the events of the "tanker war" in the Persian Gulf: on May 17, 1987, a lone fighter-bomber of the Iraqi Air Force shot down the American warship USS Stark.
The frigate lost 37 people of its crew, the total damage from the attack amounted to 142 million dollars. The Iraqi Mirage was able to evade retaliation without hindrance, hiding from the F-15 interceptors in the airspace of its country. Vive la France!
In the glamor of high technology
Outside the window is the XXI century. Dassault continues to amaze the world with its achievements.
The French are in no hurry to enter the race to create the best "fifth generation" fighter. Instead, without further ado, they perfected the design of the Rafale multirole fighter and won the "tender of the century" to supply 126 fighters for the Indian Air Force.
It is not known for certain whether the Rafale is the most elegant of all modern fighters. Disputes on this score have been going on for a single year. But one thing is known for sure: the French fighter-bomber is one of the most high-tech production aircraft of the 4+ generation (the advantages can be set indefinitely).
Before us is another reincarnation of the Mirage-III - the classic French tailless aircraft with PGO, which advantageously combines high flight characteristics and the most modern avionics.
The Thales RBE2 AA active phased array (AFAR) radar, aircraft voice control system and the Optronique Secteur Frontal (OSF) built-in optoelectronic sighting system - few of Raphael's competitors can boast of such equipment. Further - the "gentleman's set" of any modern fighter, made at the highest technological level: the SPECTRA threat warning system, coupled with an active jamming station; secure data exchange channels, suspended sighting containers "Damocles", containers with AREOS reconnaissance equipment and any other quick-detachable equipment at the request of the customer. 14 suspension nodes, combat load weight up to 9, 5 tons!
The broadest range of weapons: "Rafale" is capable of carrying and using almost any precision weapon created on both sides of the ocean. Laser-guided bombs of the Payway type, Storm Shadow cruise missiles, the AASM family of high-precision ammunition, MICA and Meteor air-to-air missiles, Exocet anti-ship missiles - everything up to ASMP-A nuclear warhead missiles. Cannon armament has not been forgotten - a 30 mm cannon with 125 rounds of ammunition is installed on the fighter.
The young plane managed to gain solid combat experience that any of its peers would envy: business trips to the Afghan mountains, the bombing of Libya, shooting at black guys in the African jungle (Operation Serval, Mali, 2013).
An excellent pedigree made itself felt: a year ago, a video of the training battle "Raphael" and (horror!) F-22 "Raptor" leaked to the Internet. The footage shows how the Frenchman confidently hangs on the tail of the Raptor, the result is 4: 1 in favor of Raphael.
The old rule is still in force: "I saw the Mirage, do not take a turn!"
P. S. The firm "Dassault" was named after one of the leaders of the French Resistance, Paul Blok - brother of the founder of the firm, Marcel Blok. His underground nickname was Char d'Assault (from the French for "tank").
Deck modification Dassault Rafale M
