Faced with the success of the jet fighter during the Korean war and its generalization on flight lines and carrier decks, France initiated a important series of prototypes like the SNCASO Trident, the SFECMAS Gerfaut II, the GAMD Mirage I ant the SNCASE Durandal, mainly to catch up with the USSR, Great Britain and the UK.Faced with the success of the jet fighter during the Korean war and its generalization on flight lines and carrier decks, France initiated a important series of prototypes like the SNCASO Trident, the SFECMAS Gerfaut II, the GAMD MirageI ant the SNCASE Durandal, mainly to catch up with the USSR, Great Britain and the UK.
Eventually in December 1953 it started an important program for a fighter capable of defending the French mainland. Two planes were in competition: the Breguet Br.1100 and the Dassault Mystre XXII. Both featured two Turbomca Gabizo engines with a 1 100kg thrust (1 500kg in afterburner).
Meanwhile Nato, upon a request from General Lauris Norstad, commander in chief of the alliance, issued a bid to various European airplane manufacturers in April 1954 for a versatile light fighter (the LWTSF program: Light Weight Tactical Strike Fighter).
When the European air forces launch the programs, they have in mind a possible aggression from the USSR or Warsaw Pact nations on one or several Nato countries. The aircraft has to able to rapidly defend Nato airbases, which would likely be the main targets of the first Soviet nuclear strike. Furthermore, this plane would then have to be able to operate from damaged airfields and attack the USSR or its allies.
Dassault-Aviation's answer to the bid will be a series of prototypes, which will eventually lead to the tendard IVM/P as we know it today.
