SNCASO SO.9050 Trident II

Developed from the SNCASO SO.9000 Trident, the SO.9050 Trident II was the prototype for a French mix-powered point defense interceptor. Powered by two turbojet engines and a rocket engine, two prototypes were ordered along with a batch of six pre-production aircraft.

The Trident II differed from its predecessor by having a 29.3 kN (6,600 lbf) SEPR 631 rocket replace the SEPR 431. Additionally, the undercarriage was lengthened to permit an air to air missile to be located under the fuselage.

The second prototype crashed on 7 January 1956 when the fuel pump failed and the engine flamed out. A third prototype that was being developed by SNCASO into a surface to air missile was purchased by the Air Force to replaced the destroyed aircraft. The first prototype exploded on 21 May 1957 when the volatile rocket fuel components mixed, killing the pilot. The third prototype continued flying until it made a belly landing on 19 September 1957.

Of the three pre-production aircraft ordered, only the first three were completed before the program was terminated in favour of the Dassault Mirage III.