During World War II, Marcel Bloch and his brother Paul (a member of the French Resistance) were interned by the Germans, during that time they adopted the name Dassault which would be carried over to the new company they established post-war. It's initial clame to fame was the Ouragan (Hurricane), France's first jet fighter and the design which was largely responsible for reviving the French aviation industry after four years of German occupation. The Ouragan was of conventional design with a straight wing, a locally produced Rolls-Royce Nene engine, and distinctive wingtip fuel tanks. It entered service with the Armée de l'Air in the early 1950s replacing British supplied Vampires until they themselves were replaced by the more advanced Mystère fighters by 1961. They were also supplied to India, Israel, and El Salvador, all of which used them in combat: in the latter's case, even up to the 1980s.

The first prototype of the MD.450 had its maiden flight 28 February 1949 with British built Nene engines before a locally produced copy was available. Two major variants were built which were the MD.450A with the British engine and the MD.450B with one built by Hispano-Suiza. Indian aircraft were given the name Toofani: its Hindu equivalent.