Dassault were tasked in the early 1960s to design a low-altitude intruder that did not have the high approach speeds associated with the delta wing of the Mirage III. Unlike the Mirage III, the F2 had a high-mounted swept wing and horizontal tail surfaces. The prototype powered by a Pratt & Whitney TF30 turbofan first flew on 12 June 1966. It was re-engined with the SNECMA TF306 for the second flight on 29 December 1966.
Two parallel developments were a single-seat Mirage F3 interceptor and a scaled-down and simpler Mirage F1. Eventually the French Air Force chose to develop the French-engined F1, and the F2 did not enter production.[1]
The fuselage and engine from the F2 formed the basis of a variable-geometry variant, the Mirage G.[1]
Aircraft on display
The Mirage F2 is now preserved with DGA Techniques Aeronautiques in Toulouse Balma.[citation needed]
Buttler, Tony (2015). X-Planes of Europe. Vol. II: Military Prototype Aircraft from the Golden Age 1946–1974. Manchester, UK: Hikoki Publications. ISBN978-1-90210-948-0.
Carbonel, Jean-Christophe (2016). French Secret Projects. Vol. 1: Post War Fighters. Manchester, UK: Crecy Publishing. ISBN978-1-91080-900-6.
The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing.