In 1952, the French Government began studies to develop an advanced interceptor.This aircraft was to reach 59,000 feet (18,000m) in just six minutes and have a maximum speed in excess of Mach 1.3, an incredible performance requirement considering the aircraft of the day. Dassault began studies of a small delta winged design powered by both afterburning jets and rockets. From this early study grew the design of one of the most iconic jet fighters of the Cold War, the Mirage III. In 1958, the first production Mirage III was the first European aircraft to exceed Mach 2 in level flight, its futuristic shape capturing the imagination of the public through its performance and appearance in a series of popular comic books.