Dassault Mirage F2
| Company type | Prototype aircraft |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace |
| Founded | 1966 |
| Headquarters | Toulouse , France |
| Products | Military aircraft |
The Dassault Mirage F2 was a French prototype designed as a two-seat ground-attack and fighter platform, primarily intended to serve as a test vehicle for the SNECMA TF306 turbofan engine. This aircraft also played a significant role in shaping the design of the later Dassault Mirage G, which featured a variable-geometry wing concept.
Design and development
During the early 1960s, Dassault was commissioned to create a low-level penetration aircraft that avoided the high landing speeds characteristic of the delta-winged Mirage III. Departing from the Mirage III’s delta configuration, the F2 incorporated a high-mounted swept wing along with conventional horizontal tail surfaces. Its maiden flight took place on 12 June 1966, powered by a Pratt & Whitney TF30 turbofan engine. Subsequently, on 29 December 1966, the prototype underwent its second flight equipped with the updated SNECMA TF306 engine.
Concurrent projects included the single-seat Mirage F3 interceptor and the more compact, straightforward Mirage F1. Ultimately, the French Air Force opted for the domestically powered Mirage F1 for operational use, resulting in termination of the Mirage F2 program.
The fuselage and propulsion system of the F2 were later adapted as foundational elements for the variable-geometry wing Mirage G design.
Aircraft on display
The sole Mirage F2 prototype is preserved at DGA Techniques Aéronautiques located in Toulouse Balma.