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The Mirage III was the winner of a competition for a multirole, mach 2 fighter. Its only two competitors were the rocket-powered Trident II, and the Durandal which was quite similar to the Mirage, with a frontal air intake.

The Trident was eliminated as too specialised, and the Durandal because of its frontal air intake and weak low-level performances.


But these three aircrafts were realised for an earlier competition, a supersonic lightweight fighter. In fact it was to be the high-altitude complement of the NATO lightweight fighters (Fiat G.91, Etendard II IV VI, Breguet 1001 / 1100 TAON, SE-5000 Baroudeur).


Here are the Mirage III ancestors, Mirage 01/I and Mirage II.

The Durandal and Trident were the competitors.


Three other projects never went off the drawing board

- Morane-Saulnier MS-1000

- SNCAN (Nord) -5000 Harpon

- Breguet Br.1002


The pictures come from "les avions de combat francais 1945-1960 Chasseurs" by Jean Cuny. (I noticed that the pictures are signed JMC, and I'm quite sure its Jean Marie Carbonel :) )


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