SNCASO S.O.4050 Vautour

Vautour
Vautour IIB, French Air Force
Role	Fighter-bomber
Manufacturer	Sud Aviation
First flight	16 October 1952
Introduction	1958
Retired	1979
Primary users	French Air Force Israeli Air Force
Produced	149

The Sud-Ouest Aviation (SNCASO) S.O. 4050 Vautour II (French for vulture) was a French jet-powered bomber, interceptor, and attack aircraft developed and manufactured by aircraft company Sud Aviation.

The Vautour was operated by France's Armée de l'Air (AdA), having been originally developed by Sud Aviation in response to a French requirement for a jet-powered aircraft to perform the bomber, low-level attack, and all-weather interception missions. Amongst other roles, the Vautour was operated in the nuclear deterrent capacity by the force de frappe under the Commandement des Forces Aériennes Stratégiques; each aircraft was suitable for the carriage a single nuclear weapon. However, the shortcomings of the type in the bombing role, such as its lack of radar or other advanced navigation/attack systems, led to the type being replaced as a bomber by the more capable Dassault Mirage IV. The Vautour never saw combat usage with the AdA.

In addition to France, only one other customer for the Vautour was Israel. During its service with the Israeli Air Force (IAF), the type undertook various mission and roles and was quickly used in active combat. Vautours were used to perform offensive strikes during multiple major conflicts between Israel and its neighbors, including the Six Day War and the War of Attrition. Only a single air-to-air kill was ever recorded as having been accomplished by a Vautour; the type was more heavily used for bombing and strafing runs against ground targets, and was reportedly considered by Israel to be a contemporary of the Soviet-built Ilyushin Il-28 medium bombers used by its regional adversaries. During the early 1970s, the Vautour was ultimately replaced by the American-built Douglas A-4 Skyhawk.

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