The Dassault Mystère IV A can be seen as the aircraft that marked the Israeli Air Force’s entry into the era of modern jet fighters. Delivered from France in the mid-1950s, it quickly became a frontline asset in Israeli squadrons. The Mystère IV A was a single-seat fighter-bomber with a swept-wing design, capable of serving both as an interceptor and in ground-attack missions.

Powered by the Hispano-Suiza Verdon 350 engine—a French-built derivative of the Rolls-Royce Tay—the aircraft produced around 3,300 kilograms of thrust, enabling it to reach speeds close to Mach 0.9 at altitude. It had a service ceiling of over 15,000 meters and a combat radius of about 850 kilometers, which were impressive numbers for its time.

In terms of armament, the Mystère IV A carried two 30 mm DEFA cannons, highly effective in close-range dogfights and giving Israeli pilots an edge over contemporary opponents like the MiG-15 and MiG-17. The aircraft could also be equipped with up to 2.5 tons of bombs, rockets, or external fuel tanks for ground-attack missions. Notably, some of the Israeli Mystères were fitted with the AA-20 Nord air-to-air missile, an early French guided weapon. Although innovative, the missile was heavy and difficult to employ effectively in fast-paced dogfights, so it saw only limited operational use.

The Mystère IV A’s role in conflicts such as the Suez Crisis (1956) and the Six-Day War (1967) demonstrated its importance. Although later replaced by more advanced fighters like the Mirage IIICJ, this French jet played a key role in securing Israel’s early air superiority in the region.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++