Further development of the Ouragan resulted in the Dassault Mystère II, the first major production version of a long series of successful fighters which would put the French aviation industry back among the world's best. The Mystère II was groundbreaking in many ways: it was the first Western European swept wing aicraft to enter production, was the first all French jet fighers (both in terms of airframe and engine), and the first Western European fighter capable of exceeding Mach 1 in a dive (a feat achived accidentally by a USAF test pilot). Likewise, the Mystère II's powerplant, the SNECMA Atar, was to eventually fitted on most major French aircraft such as later Mystères as well as the Etendard and Mirage series. The Mystère II had only a brief service life with the Armee de l'Air (serving in only two Escadres) due to the inminent introduction of more advanced types, reasons for which Israel also lost interest.

The MD.452 Mystère was a direct evolution of the earlier Ouragan fighter, the prototype Mystère I first flew on 23 February 1951 with the same Nene engine as its predecessor. The Mystère II was initially powered by locally produced Rolls-Royce Tay engines which were substituted by the Atar in the production Mystère IIC. A proposed night figher derivative, the Mystère III was never ordered.