The Vautour IIN was armed for the all-weather interception role -
guns, AAMs and rockets.
1. BOMBS
Although the IIA variant didn't enter FR-AF service, it was designed for the tactical strike role, with various armaments loads.
The IIA was used in the FR-AF for pilot training, armament trials and refueling tests.
Air to Air Missiles
1. the N variant tested or used 5 types of AAMs:
2. An early experimental Matra R-510,
optically guided, didn't enter service because of its inadequate performance.
3. Matra R-511
a) The successor of the R-510, the R-511, became one of the two
standard AAM of the N variant. This missile was produced for the
Vautour from 1958 onwards.
b) The R-511 was a "Twist and Steer", semi-active radar homing missile.
It had a fixed wing, a moving foreplane and a rudder below its wing.
The missile was powered by a two-stage solid-propellant motor with a booster
stage giving 3,500 lbs. thrust for 3 sec. and a sustainer which burnt
for 13.5 sec. giving 440 lbs. thrust. The missile had a high-explosive warhead.
c) Length - 3.1 m., Weight - 180 kg., Speed - Mach 1.8,
Range: 1-7 km.
d) The Vautour carried 2 or 4 R-511 missiles.
[ R-511 pictures ]
4. Nord 5103 (AA-20)
a) The second operational AAM, the Nord-5103 (AA-20), was
in service with other fighters as well ( Mystere, Aquilon
and Super Mystere).
b) The AA-20 had a cruciform structure. visual command guided by
coded radio link. The missile was powered by a two-stage
solid-propellant motor, controlled by deflection of the
sustainer motor nozzle. A proximity-fused, high-explosive
warhead was used.
c) Length - 2.6 m., Weight - 133 kg., Speed - Mach 1.7,
Range: up to 4 km.
[ AA-20 picture ]
5. Nord 5104 (AA-25)
a) This was an improved version of the AA-20, which was externally
similar to its predecessor. There were some intentions to
equip the Super Mystere and the Mirage with these missiles.
b) Its guidance system was radar commanded and suitable for all-weather action.
c) This type didn't enter service with the Vautours,
d) Weight - 180.5 kg., Range: 4.83 km.
6. Matra R-530
a) The advanced AAM of the time was the Matra R-530, which was
under development since 1957, and aimed to arm the Vautour and
Mirage interceptors. The missile was planned to be the sole AA
armament of the Mirage (but later, the need of guns was
recognized).
b) It entered service during 1962. Two variants were tested which
differed by their guidance systems: semi-active homing and
heat (IR) homing, the former variant became operational.
c) The missile had a cruciform structure with fixed wings and
moving tail controls. The R-530 was powered by a two-stage
solid-propellant motor.
d) Length - 3.28 m., Weight - 195 kg., Speed - Mach 2,
Range: up to 18 km.
[ R-530 pictures ]
e) This missile was purchased, in limited numbers, for the Israeli
Mirage, code named "Yahalom" (Diamond). In the IAF service the
Mirage carried one missile under fuselage. The R-530 was
responsible for the first AAM kill of the IAF, November 29,
1966, shooting down an Egyptian Mig-19.
7. The Vatour N was armed with 2 or 4 AAMs including a mix of two
R-511 and two AA-20, or two drop tanks and two missiles, the
type chosen according to mission.
Unguided Rockets
1. Internal 68mm rockets packs:
a) The original plan was to equip the Vautour (all variants) with two
Matra 104A packs, each containing 116 (some sources - 120)
SNEB type 22, of 68mm calibre, in the internal weapon bay.
b) (note that internal load of rockets was already used by the
F-86D and the canadian CF-100 all-weather interceptors).
c) Trials of firing these rockets proved to be dangerous, since
the rockets ignited too close to the belly, causing damage to the
launching aircraft. Further trials were carried out,lessening
the quantity of rockets from 232 to 205, and to 112,
but just when a 104 rockets pack seemed to be feasible an
accident occured, an explosion of a launched rocket caused the loss
the testing aircraft (N 348) and its two crewmen were killed.
d) The internal rockets armament was finally adopted in the form of one, front
pack, of 116 (or 104) rockets. The rear compartement could contain a fuel tank.
2. Multi-purpose 68mm rockets pods:
a) External rockets of the same type, SNEB type 22, had been
operational with earlier fighters, and up to 4 Matra 116E
"honey-Comb" pods, containing 19 68mm rockets could be
carried by the Vautour IIN.
[ 68 mm. rockets pictures ]
Test Bed
1. The Vautour N was very suitable for tests. It had large space for
testing equipment, in the rear cockpit, under the wings, at the wings'
tips and in the lower weapon bay.
2.It was used as test-bed for the Mirage "family" radar (Cyrano variants). 4 aircraft
were converted to these trials, fitted with a new, pointed nose. Later those
aircraft tested the advanced radar of the Mirage-2000.
3. The Vautour N also tested new types of landing gears and various
other components.
4. Some IINs participated in nuclear trials, carried out in the
Pacific, and used for measurement of the atmosphere's radiation and
other parameters.
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II. Vautour IIB
The Vautour IIB was designed for nuclear and conventional bombing, with
a range to access Eastern Block targets in Europe. The concept of an
escorted bomber dictated that no defensive armament, guns or AAMs,
was installed.
a) One NUCLEAR bomb could be carried in the weapon bay. No details are available.
The bomb's weight was probably of the ~ 1,000 kg. type.
b) Conventional bomb load is reported by different sources as:
(i) In the weapons bay: 4 or 6 bombs x 454 kg. or 340 kg., which gives a
max. bombs weight of 2,724 kg.
(ii) 450 kg. and 350 kg. bombs ("Metric" rather than "British" measures),
which make the max, bombs' weight 2,700 kg.
(iii) 3 x 450 kg. bombs or 6 x 350/250 kg. bombs or 9 x 100 kg. bombs. These figures
total in a max. bomb load of just 2,100 kg. which was probably the
normal weapon bay capacity.
c) External load was 4 x 450 kg. bombs (or 454 kg.), i.e. a total
of 1,800 (or 1,816 kg). Alternatively 4 x 350 kg. (or 340.1 kg) could
be carried.
d) According to the figures above, the Vautour IIB could lift a
total of ca. 3,900 kg. bombs load (2,100 + 1,800),
or, according to the "higher" figures, up to 4,500 kgs.( 2,700 + 1,800 ).
e) A "Guided Engined Bomb", designated B-10, was developed in the
mid-50's and the Vautours IIA & IIB were to be armed with it as a
tactical weapon. This bomb didn't reach operational status.
f) A heavy Runway-Piercing rocket-bomb, "Durandal", was developed but it didn't enter operational service with the Vautour.
2. Air to Surface Missiles
a) Nord AS-20
(i) A first-generation missile, the AS-20 was also in use by
several French fighter-bombers.
(ii) It was tested, combined with the AS-30, by Vautours IIN.
(iii) Techical data: n.a.
(iv) This missile was considered for the Israeli Vautours IIAs,
but it didn't fit for a single-seat fighter.
b) Nord AS-30
(i) The Nord AS-30 ASM was developed for the Vautour, the Etendard and
the Mirage. It was tested by the IIN.
(ii) At some stage a tactical nuclear war-head was
considered.
(iv) The AS-30 was guided by radio command. Length - 3.9 m.,
Weight - 510 kg., Speed - Mach 2, Range: 9.65 km.
3. 68mm rockets : the IIB was also planned for an
internal load of these rockets, but, as mentioned, it was abandoned.
The IIB probably didn't even use the external 19 rockets' pods, and was
armed externally with bombs only.
4. AAMs: the IIB was not equipped with AAMs, as
planned to be escorted by fighters.
[ The armament of the Vautour B - picture ]
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III. Vautour IIA
1. Unguided Rockets
a) Internal packs for 68mm rockets - finally not installed (see IIN paragraph).
b) 19 x 68mm rockets pods were tested and carried.
c) The IIA variant had provision for 24 120 mm Air to Surface
rocketa, 4 clusters of six each.
d) The standard 105mm T-10 rockets (4 x 6) could possibly also be used for training.
3. Air to Surface Missiles
a) ASMs were planned for the Vautour IIA, 1955, to be carried under
fuselage and/or underwings. This plan was abandoned as the orders
for this variant were cut out.
*) See also: the AS-20 & AS-30, Vautour IIB paragraph.
4. Air to Air Missiles
It is possible that one or more of the AAMs mentioned in the Vautour IIN
paragraph, were tested also by the French IIA variant.
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