Built by a public firm, the Durandal would have been the only serious competitor to the Mirage III (the Breguet sirocco remained paper bound, and the Trident II was rocket-powered)
It even flew 8 months before the Mirage III (April 1956 Vs Novemeber) and had the same performances (mach 1.5 whithout rocket, Mach 1.8 with rocket, mach 2 with the future Atar 9)
Sadly, the SNCASE was the weak firm, and merged with another firm, ending Durandal development in Spring 1957.
I searched data about two durandal derivatives
- the durandal IV (mach2 with the Atar 9)
- the durandal M (for the Aeronavale)
It even flew 8 months before the Mirage III (April 1956 Vs Novemeber) and had the same performances (mach 1.5 whithout rocket, Mach 1.8 with rocket, mach 2 with the future Atar 9)
Sadly, the SNCASE was the weak firm, and merged with another firm, ending Durandal development in Spring 1957.
I searched data about two durandal derivatives
- the durandal IV (mach2 with the Atar 9)
- the durandal M (for the Aeronavale)