Dassault Mirage IVA

The Dassault Mirage IV was built to carry France’s nuclear deterrent – part of that country’s Force de Frappe, a combination of land, sea and air based atomic weaponry that was developed from the late 1950s. 

From the very outset it was an advanced, supersonic machine, designed to carry a single nuclear bomb 2000 km (1242 miles) without refuelling. It first flew in 1959, before entering service in 1964. 

As with British and American nuclear-armed air forces, the French operated Mirage IVs on a Quick Reaction Alert basis, where aircraft were on permanent standby to go into action, should the Cold War have escalated to a nuclear conflict. 

The Mirage IV was original intended to use free-fall nuclear bombs, initially coming in at high altitude and high speed (Mach 1.85 – close to twice the speed of sound).  

But as the threat from Soviet surface to air missile systems became too great, the tactics were switched to flying at low level (200 feet), without the assistance of terrain-following radar and travelling at 680 mph – a test of pilots’ skill and endurance. 

Eventually the free-fall nuclear bombs were replaced by missiles, released from the aircraft hundreds of miles from the target. 

In another move, the lion’s share of France’s nuclear-deterrent role was switched to surface-launched missiles and nuclear-armed submarines. 

The Mirage IVa was relinquished of its nuclear bomber role altogether in 1996 but continued in a reconnaissance capacity (as the Mirage IVp), such was its ability to penetrate enemy territory. 

This example was given to the Yorkshire Air Museum in 2027, after a lengthy period of negotiation with the French Authorities, in recognition of the link between Elvington and the French Air Force. It is the only Mirage IV outside of France.