10/31/2007. Remarks by Johan Visschedijk: "On August 29, 1961, Dassault Aviation and Sud-Aviation received an order from the DTIA (Direction Technique et Industrielle de l'Aéronautique, Directorate of Aviation Technique and Industry) to conjointly design and built produce two vertical take off fighter prototypes. The Mach 2 Mirage III V had eight 3,525 lb (1,600 kg) Rolls-Royce RB162-1 lift jets and a 13,890 lb (6,300 kg) st SNECMA TF104 turbofan.

Piloted by René Bigand the first hovering trial was made at Melun-Villaroche on February 12, 1965. In December the TF104 engine was replaced by a 16,755 lb (7,600 kg) st TF106 turbofan with afterburner, and piloted by Jean-Marie Saget the aircraft made its first transition from hover to horizontal flight on March 24, 1966.

The second prototype, powered by a 18,519 lb (8,400 kg) st Pratt & Whitney TF30 turbofan with reheat, was flown by Jean-Marie Saget on June 22, 1966. It achieved 1,505 mph (2,422 kmh) in level flight on its eleventh test flight, but was destroyed in a crash at Istres on November 28, 1966; the pilot was killed. The program was subsequently scrapped."