Following the triumph of the Ouragan, Dassault embarked on the development of an upgraded model, which made its inaugural flight in early 1951 as the MD.452 Mystère I.

The initial Mystère I prototype essentially adapted an Ouragan by incorporating a 30degree swept wing and revised tail surfaces. The subsequent two prototypes were powered by the RollsRoyce Tay 250 centrifugalflow turbojet, an enhanced version of the RollsRoyce Nene, licensed and manufactured by HispanoSuiza, delivering 28.0 kN (6,300 lbf) thrust.

These three Mystère I prototypes paved the way for two Mystère IIA versions, armed with four 20 mm (0.787 in) Hispano cannons and powered by the Tay. Then came four Mystère IIB versions, which replaced the four 20 mm (0.787 in) cannons with two 30 mm (1.181 in) DEFA revolvertype cannons. On 28 October 1951, a Mystère IIA became the first French aircraft to breach Mach 1 in controlled flight (in a dive).

The eleven preproduction aircraft that followed were labeled Mystère IIC. Nine of these were equipped with the SNECMA Atar 101C axialflow turbojet, providing 24.5 kN (5,500 lbf) thrust, while two were experimentally equipped with the afterburning Atar 101F, boasting an afterburning thrust of 37.3 kN (8,400 lbf).

The French Air Force commissioned 150 Mystère IICs, with the first production model taking flight in June 1954 and being delivered in October of the same year. These production aircraft incorporated the dual 30 mm (1.181 in) DEFA cannon, an Atar 101D turbojet with 29.4 kN (6,600 lbf) thrust, enhanced tail sweep, and redesigned intake trunking and internal fuel tank layout. Its top speed reached 1,030 km/h (560 kn; 640 mph) at low altitude. Details about external stores remain vague, but they are likely to have been akin to those of the Ouragan.

By the time the final Mystère IIC was delivered in 1957, the model was already transitioning to advanced training responsibilities. Aircraft design was evolving rapidly in the 1950s, and even as the Mystère IIC was commencing operations, the superior Dassault Mystère IVA had already taken flight. Although the Mystère IIC served as a stopgap model, it continued in the training role until 1963.

The Mystère II saw no international buyers. The Israelis initially planned to purchase 24 but opted for Mystère IVAs instead. It seems that the Mystère II never participated in combat operations.