Dassault Ouragan

Dassault Aviation
Company type	Private
Industry	Aerospace, Defense
Founded	April 22, 1929; 97 years ago in France
Founder	Marcel Bloch
Headquarters	Mérignac, France
Area served	Worldwide
Products	Military aircraft, civil aircraft, missiles
Owner	Dassault Group
Website	www.dassault-aviation.com

The Dassault M.D.450 Ouragan () represents a French fighter-bomber conceived and produced by Dassault Aviation. Initially developed as a private initiative to create a fully French jet-powered aircraft, it eventually received procurement orders from the French Air Force. Marking a milestone, the Ouragan became the first French-designed combat jet to enter mass production, significantly contributing to the post-World War II resurgence of France's aviation sector. It was operated by nations including France, India, Israel, and El Salvador, playing a prominent role in conflicts such as the Suez Crisis and the Six-Day War during its service with Israel.

Origins

France's aircraft design progress was hindered by German occupation throughout much of World War II. After his release in March 1945, aviation pioneer Marcel Bloch set out to rejuvenate the domestic aerospace industry by developing an entirely French jet fighter. In early 1946, he adopted the name Dassault for himself and his company, aiming to swiftly enter the emerging jet aircraft market.

By 1947, despite limited factory readiness, Dassault embarked on developing this fighter as an independent project. Its design was influenced primarily by American jets such as the Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star and the North American F-86 Sabre, focusing on rapid climb capabilities suitable for an interceptor role. The aircraft was powered by a single Rolls-Royce Nene turbojet engine, which was manufactured under license in France by Hispano-Suiza.

In September 1947, Dassault submitted the project to the French military planning office, receiving favorable reactions but no immediate contract; thus, development proceeded privately. Formal design work commenced in December 1947 under the designation M.D.450. Prototype assembly began on 7 April 1948 at Saint-Cloud near Paris. Subsequently, on 29 June 1948, the French Ministry of Defence authorized contract No. 2223/48 for three prototype units.

Prototypes

After approximately 15 months of design development, the initial prototype M.D.450-01 was finalized and completed its first flight on 28 February 1949 with Dassault's chief test pilot Kostia Rozanoff at the controls. This prototype did not feature cockpit pressurization, armament, or wingtip fuel tanks that appeared on later versions. It utilized a Rolls-Royce Nene 102 centrifugal-flow engine delivering 22.27 kN (5,000 lbf) of thrust. Flight testing in 1949 demonstrated a maximum speed of 980 km/h (609 mph) and an initial climb rate of 43 m/s (8,465 ft/min).

The second prototype, designated M.D.450-02, took flight in May 1949 and incorporated a pressurized cockpit along with upgraded internal systems. It engaged in maneuverability assessments at the Centre d'Essais en Vol de Marignane during November, reaching altitudes up to 15,000 m (49,213 ft). By December, the distinctive wingtip tanks with a capacity of 450 liters were introduced. Testing concluded after sustaining damage caused by a landing gear failure.

The third example, M.D.450-03, first flew on 2 June 1950 and included enhancements based on previous test results. Equipped with a Hispano-Suiza licensed Nene 104 engine intended for production use, it underwent weapons trials at Centre d'Essais en Vol de Cazaux, fitted initially with 15 mm cannons later upgraded to 20 mm armament.

On 31 August 1949, the French Air Force placed an order for 15 pre-production aircraft—later adjusted down to 12—to facilitate further testing; this contract was formalized on 15 December 1949. These airplanes (labeled M.D.450-1 through M.D.450-12) were extensively employed in flight testing programs evaluating various engines, weapons systems, and equipment layouts. Significant variants included M.D.450-6, which featured electrically controlled trim tabs; M.D.450-8, configured for aerial reconnaissance missions; and M.D.450-10, used as a flying test platform for the SNECMA Atar engine.

Production

At the time when the pre-production order was placed, the French Government contemplated acquiring as many as 850 Ouragans over a five-year span to upgrade its military forces. On 31 August 1950, Dassault secured an initial fixed contract for 150 production Ouragans intended to outfit the Armée de l'Air. This was followed by three further orders, each for 100 aircraft; however, the last of these was canceled in January 1952 in favor of the more advanced Dassault Mystère IIC.

Due to insufficient time to fully streamline the Ouragan for mass manufacturing, Dassault's production capabilities fell short of domestic requirements. This shortfall led to subcontracting: SNCASE took charge of assembling the forward fuselages at Toulouse, while SNCASO handled rear fuselages in Saint-Nazaire and wing fabrication in Bouguenais. Dassault itself continued producing center fuselages and tail sections, with final assembly conducted at its Mérignac plant.

The inaugural production Ouragan took flight on 5 December 1951, incorporating minor design adjustments such as redesigned doors for the retractable nosewheel landing gear following incidents during prototype testing. By the close of 1952, 39 production units had been completed; an additional 93 were delivered in 1953; and the remaining 118 were finished by mid-1954.

A number of production Ouragans were adapted experimentally for deployment from unprepared airfields. Modifications included replacing the single-wheel main landing gear with dual low-pressure tires that retracted into fairings beneath the wing roots, alongside the addition of drogue parachutes. These variants, dubbed "Barougan" (a fusion of Ouragan and the Arabic word Baroud, meaning battle), were designed specifically for combat operations in Algeria. The first Barougan prototype flew on 24 February 1954; four units underwent testing involving multiple grass field landings under varying load conditions. Development ended in 1958, with some test aircraft reverted to standard Ouragan configurations.

Design

The Dassault Ouragan represented an early generation jet fighter characterized by a simple layout featuring a single divided air intake positioned at the nose, directing airflow around the cockpit to the engine located behind the pilot. Drawing inspiration from the Republic F-84 Thunderjet, its cylindrical fuselage tapered smoothly at both ends and included a nose intake, a bubble canopy, and tricycle landing gear. The aircraft incorporated relatively thin wings and a swept vertical stabilizer reminiscent of the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17. Propulsion was provided by a single Rolls-Royce Nene turbojet engine manufactured under license by Hispano-Suiza. Initial models were equipped with Martin-Baker Mk.1 ejection seats, which were later replaced by SNCASO E.86 seats. Aerodynamic elements featured a swept tailplane combined with tapered thin wings.

Designed primarily as a fighter, its armament reflected ground-attack capabilities: it could carry two 450 kg bombs, sixteen 105-mm Matra T-10 rockets, or eight rockets paired with two 460-liter napalm bombs. The fighter was armed with four Mark V 20mm Hispano cannons mounted beneath the air intake.

While stable during cannon and rocket firing sequences, the Ouragan was susceptible to flat spins when executing tight turns due to its fuselage’s length-to-diameter proportion.

Export versions deployed in regions such as Algeria—known colloquially as Barougans—were outfitted with brake parachutes and upgraded dual-wheel main landing gear optimized for operations on rough terrain.

Armee de l'Air

In August 1950, prior to the delivery of pre-production models, France placed an order for 150 production Ouragans, with plans to operate as many as 850 within the Armee de l'Air. The Ouragan entered active squadron service in 1952, replacing aircraft such as the British De Havilland Vampire.

Due to the urgency of deployment, comprehensive testing was not fully completed, leading to pilot difficulties including abrupt snaps during aggressive turns that sometimes caused unintended spins. Nevertheless, pilots valued the aircraft's stability when firing guns and rockets. Its handling qualities earned it a two-year tenure as the demonstration aircraft for the Patrouille de France aerobatic team.

The initial batch of 50 were M.D.450A models powered by Nene 102 engines; subsequent units were primarily M.D.450B versions fitted with lighter Hispano-Suiza manufactured Nene 104B engines that provided marginally increased thrust. Both types were equipped with standard wingtip fuel tanks.

The Ouragan’s frontline service was relatively short-lived; beginning in May 1955, it was superseded by the more advanced Dassault Mystère IV. By 1961, it had been phased out of operational squadrons, although some continued serving as advanced tactical and gunnery trainers into the mid-1960s.

India

India placed an order on 25 June 1953 for 71 Ouragans powered by the upgraded Nene 105 engine. The first four aircraft were delivered by air in October 1953, with the remainder arriving by sea and all deliveries completed by mid-1954. In 1957, India acquired an additional 33 second-hand Ouragans, bringing their total fleet to 104. Selecting the French-built Ouragan was part of a strategic effort to diversify military suppliers. In Indian service, the aircraft was designated Toofani, meaning "Hurricane" in Hindi.

Indian Toofanis saw combat in 1961 during air strikes against Portuguese forces on Diu and were employed in ground-attack operations against insurgents in Assam and Nagaland. They also conducted reconnaissance missions during the Sino-Indian War of 1962. On 24 April 1965, one Toofani was compelled to land in Pakistan amid the Rann of Kutch conflict and was subsequently displayed as a captured war trophy.

Starting in 1957, the Dassault Mystère IVA began replacing the Ouragan in Indian service. By 1965, the type had been completely withdrawn from frontline roles but continued to serve as an advanced trainer and target tug for several years thereafter.

Israel

During the early 1950s, amidst regional tensions and the need to counter Soviet-built fighters like the MiG-15, the Israel Air Force (IAF) became a major operator of the Ouragan. After evaluating options including the Dassault Mystère IIC and Canadair Sabre Mk.6, Israel procured both Mystère IVAs and Ouragans as an interim measure.

By 1955, Israel had received at least 75 Ouragans—a combination of new deliveries and retired French aircraft—distributed across five squadrons primarily assigned to close air support due to their limitations against Egyptian MiG-15 fighters. On 12 April 1956, an Israeli Ouragan scored its first confirmed aerial victory by shooting down an Egyptian de Havilland Vampire.

Throughout the Suez Crisis of 1956, Ouragans performed ground-attack and escort missions, notably downing four Vampires on 30 October. Although outclassed in speed and climb rate by MiG-15s, Israeli pilots used superior training to survive engagements. On 31 October, rocket-armed Ouragans helped capture the Egyptian destroyer Ibrahim el Awal.

The Israeli Ouragan fleet was credited with destroying a significant number of enemy tanks and vehicles during this conflict while losing only two aircraft to small arms fire. The IDF Commander-in-Chief later commended their operational effectiveness.

Following the Suez Crisis, Ouragans transitioned mainly to training duties but remained active within two close-support squadrons by 1967. They again saw combat during the Six-Day War that year. In 1975, Israel sold eighteen Ouragans to El Salvador, where they remained in service until the late 1980s.

El Salvador

In the aftermath of the 1969 Football War, El Salvador aimed to upgrade its air capabilities. Due to a US arms embargo, the country procured 18 used Israeli Ouragans, which were refurbished and delivered between 1973 and 1978.

During the Salvadoran Civil War (1979–1992), these aircraft were instrumental in executing strike operations against the communist FMLN insurgents from Ilopango Air Base, situated near San Salvador. Given El Salvador’s limited territory, the Ouragans operated without wingtip fuel tanks to maximize their weapons load.

In 1982, an FMLN assault on Ilopango resulted in the destruction of multiple Ouragans, prompting their replacement by American-made Cessna A-37B Dragonfly jets following the Reagan Administration’s removal of the embargo. The remaining Ouragans continued service until the conflict concluded.

Throughout the war, the fleet exhibited a variety of camouflage patterns, which may indicate a lack of uniformity. At least one Ouragan remains preserved on static display at Ilopango.

Variants

MD 450A Ouragan: Initial batch of 50 production aircraft powered by Nene 102 engines.
MD 450B Ouragan: Featured Hispano-Suiza-produced Nene 104B engines and enhanced nose landing gear door design.
MD 450R Ouragan: Sole reconnaissance model constructed.
MD 450-30L Ouragan: Preproduction prototype fitted with SNECMA Atar 101B engine and lateral fuselage air intakes; first flew on 21 January 1952 to aid development of the Dassault 453.
Dassault Barougan: Four aircraft adapted for operations on rough terrain, equipped with two-wheel main landing gear featuring low-pressure tires and brake parachutes.

Operators

Figures sourced from World Air Forces;

French Air Force operated a total of 370 units including prototypes.

Indian Air Force operated 104 units.

Israeli Air Force operated 75 units.

El Salvador Air Force operated 18 units.

Aircraft on display

Belgium

An Armee de L'air Ouragan marked "UQ" is exhibited at the Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History in Brussels.

France

Several MD.450 Ouragans are preserved, such as #251 and #450/"4-US" at Chateau Savigny-lès-Beaune. The Musee de l'Air et de l'Espace at Le Bourget Airport displays #154/"4-LT" adorned with a distinctive "Indian-head" motif. Ouragan #214/"UG" is showcased in "Patrouille de France" livery at the "Musée Européen de l'Aviation de Chasse," located in Montélimar.

Israel

Israeli Air Force Ouragans numbered "80" and "49," which saw combat during the 1956 Suez Crisis and the 1967 Six-Day War, are presented outdoors at the Israeli Air Force Museum.

India

An MD.450 Ouragan (Toofani), designated "IC 554," is on display at the Indian Air Force Museum, Palam, New Delhi, painted in natural metal finish bearing No. 47 "Black Archers" Squadron insignia.

El Salvador

Two Ouragans are exhibited at the Museo Nacional de Aviación located at Ilopango Air Base.

External links

Dassault Aviation MD 450 Ouragan information