Jean Cabrière

With Henri Deplante, Jean Cabrière oversaw the design and development of all company aircraft and missiles, from the Ouragan to the Rafale A technological demonstrator.

Jean Cabrière was born on 16th January 1915, in Avignon, and graduated from Sup’Aéro in 1939. He joined the Société Nationale des Constructions Aéronautiques du Sud-Ouest (SNCASO) in 1941 as part of the Cannes technical group which was home to all the design offices in the free zone and took part in designing the prototype of the SO-90 twin-engine mail/passenger aircraft.

He was hired by Marcel Dassault in 1947, and given responsibility for designing the MD 450 Ouragan, the first jet fighter ordered by the French Air Force.

As chief engineer, technical manager and then general technical director in 1973, he – together with Henri Deplante –, particularly for all aspects regarding the mission specifications, oversaw the design and development of all the company’s aircraft and missiles, from the Ouragan to the Rafale A technology demonstrator.


He initiated and supported the development of computer-aided tooling and integrated systems. He ended his career as adviser to the Chairman from 1982 to 1987.

Jean Cabrière was a man of character with a keen sense of politics, and remained very attached to Dassault Aviation. He was always ready and willing to talk about his years at the company. He was also a generous man and devoted many years to organizing actions in favor of an association for handicapped children.

He died on Tuesday 9th November 2010, at the age of 95.

He held the following distinctions:

  • Commander of the Order of the Legion of Honour;
  • Aeronautical Medal;
  • Member of the ONERA High Scientific Council from 1984 and 1987;
  • Senior member of the French Aeronautical and Astronautical Association (AAAF).