Французский истребитель-бомбардировщик Dassault Ouragan

French fighter bomber aircraft family

The Dassault M. D.450 Ouragan is a French fighter bomber developed and produced by Dassault Aviation. It has its origins in a private venture by Dassault to produce an all French aircraft which would make use of jet propulsion, which subsequently would receive orders from the French Air Force. The Ouragan holds the distinction of being the first jet powered French designed combat aircraft to enter production, and thus played a key role in the resurgence of the French aviation industry following the Second World War. The Ouragan was operated by France, India, Israel and El Salvador. While in Israeli service, the type participated in both the Suez Crisis and the Six Day War.

As a consequence of the nation being occupied by Germany during the majority of the Second World War, France had not been able to contribute significantly to the great strides that had been made in aircraft design during the conflict. In March 1945, aviation designer Marcel Bloch returned to France from captivity in the Buchenwald concentration camp and was eager to re establish the aviation industry through the development and production of an all French fighter, powered by newly developed jet propulsion technology. In 1947, following the bare bones preparation of a factory and equipment, Dassault formally embarked on the development of this all French fighter, which was solely at his own initiative at the start. however no firm order for the aircraft was placed at this time, necessitating the project to proceed as a private venture. This prototype lacked pressurization, armament, and the distinctive wingtip fuel tanks of subsequent production aircraft. In May 1948, the second prototype, M. D.450 02, made its maiden flight. This second prototype featured a pressurized cockpit and more complete internal equipment. In December 1948, the 450 liters (118.9 US gal) wingtip tanks that would become an indelible feature of all Ouragans first appeared. These pre production aircraft saw extensive use in various flying trials and evaluations, including various engines, armament schemes, and equipment payloads, as well as to support other development programs. Amongst these aircraft, which were designated M. D.450 1 through to M. D.450 12, were several notable revisions; M. D.450 6 was the first aircraft of the type to feature electrically operated trim tabs, M. D.450 8 (also known as M. D.450R), was configured as an aerial reconnaissance aircraft, and M. D.450 10, which was used as a flying testbed for the SNECMA Atar engine.

According to Munson, around the time of the pre production aircraft order, there had been considerations within the French Government for the procurement of up to 850 Ouragans under a five year plan to recapitalise the French armed forces. On 31 August 1950, Dassault received an initial fixed order contract for 150 production Ouragans to equip the Armée de l'Air. In the following years, a further three orders, each ordering an additional 100 Ouragans, would be placed by the French government; however, the final of these additional orders would be cancelled in January 1952 in favour of an equivalent order for the newer and more advanced Dassault Mystère IIC. Aircraft so fitted were nicknamed "Barougan", derived from combining the Ouragan name with the Arabic word Baroud (battle).

The Dassault Ouragan was an early jet powered fighter aircraft. It employed a straightforward basic layout, with a single divided air intake in the nose that carried air around either side of the cockpit to the engine, which was located directly behind the pilot. The Ouragan was powered by a single Rolls Royce Nene turbojet engine, produced under license by Hispano Suiza. Early aircraft were equipped with Martin Baker Mk.1 ejection seats, however the majority of production aircraft were outfitted with SNCASO E.86 ejection seats instead. The aircraft was reported to be highly stable while firing the Hispano Mk. V autocannons as well as its rockets. It, however, also had a tendency to flat spin while holding tight turns, as a result of the length to diameter ratio of its fuselage being relatively low compared to other fighters at the time. Export variants, such as those intended for war in Algeria nicknamed Barougans, were fitted with brake parachutes as well as their single wheel main gear being replaced with a two wheel configuration. This provided the aircraft with the capability to be operated in rough field conditions where airstrips would not be as well maintained.

In August 1950, prior to the delivery of any pre production aircraft, the French government placed an initial order for 150 production Ouragans, with ambitions for as many 850 Ouragans in service with the Armee de l'Air. The first 50 Ouragans were built to the M. D.450A standard, equipped with the Nene 102 engine; the majority of aircraft delivered were to the later M. D.450B standard, being fitted with a Hispano Suiza built Nene 104B engine, which was lighter than the Nene 102 and with slightly greater thrust. Wingtip fuel tanks were fitted as standard in both variants. In French service, the frontline service of the Ouragan was short lived; from May 1955 onwards, the type began to be replaced by the more capable Dassault Mystère IV. In 1961, the last Ouragans were displaced from operational units; a number of aircraft were retained beyond this date in secondary capacities such as advanced tactical and gunnery trainers throughout the mid 1960s. In Indian service, the aircraft was given the name Toofani , the Hindi equivalent meaning the French name of the type. They were also used in ground attack missions against anti government rebels in Assam and Nagaland, and in 1962 to perform reconnaissance missions during the Sino Indian War. On 24 April 1965, a single Toofani strayed over the border with Pakistan, and was forced to land by PAF fighters; while the pilot was returned to India, the aircraft was retained and ended up being displayed as a war trophy at a museum in Peshawar. It was later scrapped. As was the case in France, the Ouragan started to be replaced in frontline service by the Mystère IVA in 1957, being withdrawn fully from frontline service in 1965, although it continued in use for some years as an advanced trainer and target tug. The Israeli Ouragans were assigned to a total of five squadrons for the purpose of performing close air support operations, since they could not match the performance of Egyptian MiG 15s. During the 1956 Suez Crisis, Ouragans principally flew ground attack missions, but also flew escort missions. In the early hours of 30 October 1956, a pair of Ouragans shot down four hostile de Havilland Vampires in the Mitla Pass area. The poor training of the Egyptian pilots who were consistently unable to realize their advantage in numbers as well as the MiG 15's speed and climb characteristics, helped Ouragans to survive despite their inferior performance. According to Munson, Israeli Ouragans were responsible for the destruction of a major proportion of the hostile tanks and military vehicles that came under aerial attack during the conflict, while only two Ouragans were lost during the five days of fighting, both of which were attributed to small arms fire. The Commander in Chief of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is reported to have later stated "The Ouragan was a much better aeroplane than had been thought". and accelerated the push to supplant, and eventually replace, the Ouragans with American made Cessna A 37B Dragonfly ground attack aircraft, which were made available after the Reagan Administration dropped the arms embargo. The remaining Ouragans served on for several more years, but were all retired by the war's end. Salvadoran Ouragans have been pictured in several camouflage schemes, and it is possible that during the war the Ouragan fleet operated in colors that were never completely standardized. At least one survivor of El Salvador's Ouragan fleet is currently on static display at Ilopango.

MD 450A Ouragan First 50 production aircraft, Nene 102 engine. MD 450B Ouragan Hispano Suiza built Nene 104B engine, revised two section nose landing gear doors as the original four section design was prone to damage when the cannon were fired. MD 450R Ouragan Reconnaissance variant, only one built. MD 450 30L Ouragan One preproduction prototype fitted with a SNECMA Atar 101B engine, air intakes on the sides of the fuselage, and two DEFA cannon. First flown on 21 January 1952 it was used to gain experience before the first flight of the Dassault 453. Dassault Barougan Four production aircraft modified for rough field operation with the two wheel main landing gear with low pressure tires retracting into a fairing added under the wing roots, and a brake parachute.