Super Etendard

The Super Étendard is a development of the earlier Étendard IVM which had been developed in the 1950s. The Étendard IVM was originally to have been replaced by a navalised version of the SEPECAT Jaguar, designated as the Jaguar M; however, the Jaguar M project was stalled by a combination of political problems and issues experienced during trial deployments on board carriers. The Jaguar M had suffered handling problems when being flown on a single engine and a poor throttle response time that made landing back on a carrier after an engine failure difficult. In 1973, all development work on the Jaguar M was formally cancelled by the French government. Several aircraft were proposed to replace the Jaguar M, including the LTV A-7 Corsair II and the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk. Dassault produced its own proposal to meet the requirement. The Super Étendard was an improved version of the existing Étendard IVM, outfitted with a more powerful engine, a new wing, and improved avionics. Dassault's Super Étendard proposal was accepted by the French Navy in 1973, leading to a series of prototypes being quickly assembled. The first of three prototypes to be built, an Étendard IVM which had been modified with the new engine and some of the new avionics, made its maiden flight on 28 October 1974. The original intention of the French Navy was to order a total of 100 Super Étendards, however the order placed was for 60 of the new model with options for a further 20; further budget cuts and an escalation in the aircraft's per unit price eventually led to only 71 Super Étendards being purchased. Dassault began making deliveries of the type to the French Navy in June 1978. In the first year of production, 15 Super Étendards were produced for the French Navy, allowing the formation of the first squadron in 1979. Dassault produced the aircraft at a rough rate of two per month. The Argentine Navy was the only export customer, placing an order for 14 aircraft to meet their requirements for a capable new fighter that could operate from their sole aircraft carrier. In 1983, all manufacturing activity was completed, the last delivery to the French Navy taking place that year.

The Super Étendard is a single-engined, mid-winged aircraft with an all-metal structure. Its wings and tailplane are swept, with the folding wings featuring a sweepback of approximately 45 degrees. Power is provided by a SNECMA Atar 8K-50 turbojet, generating 49 kN (11,025 lbf) of thrust. Its avionics were significantly improved compared to its predecessor. A key initial weapon system was the Aérospatiale AM 39 Exocet anti-shipping missile, launched with the aid of a Thomson-CSF Agave radar. The aircraft also featured an onboard UAT-40 central computer to manage mission-critical systems, navigation, radar information, and weapons targeting. It could also deploy tactical nuclear weapons. The aircraft was eventually fitted to carry a specialist reconnaissance pod, replacing the retiring Étendard IV in the reconnaissance mission.

Later upgrades in the 1990s, leading to the Super Étendard Modernisé (SEM), included a UAT-90 computer, a Thomson-CSF Anemone radar, a redesigned cockpit with HOTAS controls, and airframe life-extension work. Further improvements in the 2000s enhanced self-defence ECM, night vision goggle compatibility, a new inertial data system integrating GPS, and compatibility with the Damocles Laser designator pod.

The Super Étendard is equipped with two 30 mm DEFA 552 cannons, each with 125 rounds. It features six hardpoints—four underwing and two under-fuselage—providing a total external payload capacity of 2,100 kg (4,600 lb). The aircraft can carry a single AM-39 Exocet anti-shipping missile or an Air-Sol Moyenne Portée (ASMP) nuclear-armed missile. For air-to-surface capabilities, it can be armed with two AS-30L missiles or a variety of conventional unguided or laser-guided bombs. Air-to-air defense is provided by two Matra Magic missiles. Additionally, it can carry four Matra rocket pods, each containing 18 SNEB 68 mm rockets. The Super Étendard also has provisions for a single AN-52 free-fall nuclear bomb and can be equipped with a "buddy" air refueling pod.

The Super Étendard saw operational use with the French Navy, being first deployed to Lebanon in 1983 during Operation Olifant, where they carried out bombing missions against Syrian positions and training camps in response to attacks on French peacekeepers. Later, upgraded Super Étendard Modernisé (SEM) variants flew 400 combat missions during NATO's Allied Force operations over Serbia in 1999 and also participated in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan from 2001 onwards, often providing laser designation for Rafale fighters. During the Libyan conflict in 2011, they were again paired with Rafales for interdiction missions as part of Opération Harmattan. Beyond French service, five Super Étendards were loaned to Iraq in 1983 and employed in maritime operations during the Iran-Iraq War, conducting dozens of attacks on Iranian shipping in the Persian Gulf, while Argentina used the aircraft during the Falklands War where its Exocet missiles inflicted heavy damage on Royal Navy ships.

Main Variants:

• Super Étendard: The initial production version, equipped with the Thomson-CSF Agave radar and capable of carrying the AM-39 Exocet anti-shipping missile.

• Super Étendard Modernisé (SEM): An upgraded version introduced in the 1990s, featuring the UAT-90 computer, Thomson-CSF Anemone radar, a redesigned cockpit with HOTAS controls, and airframe life-extension work.

• Super Étendard with ASMP: A variant modified to carry the Air-Sol Moyenne Portée (ASMP), a ramjet-powered, air-launched nuclear missile, enhancing its strategic strike capabilities.

• Super Étendard with Reconnaissance Pod: Fitted with a specialist reconnaissance pod, this variant replaced the retiring Étendard IV in the reconnaissance mission, providing valuable intelligence-gathering capabilities.

• Iraqi Super Étendard: A temporary lease version equipped with Agave radar that could launch Exocet missiles, used during the Iraq-Iran War to attack oil tankers and merchant shipping in the Persian Gulf.

Missiles payload:

• Air-to-Surface AM39 Exocet
• Cruise Missiles ASMP
• Air-to-Air Short-Range R550 Magic

Bombs payload:

• Grenade Launcher Alkan 5030
• Nuclear Dassault AN-52
• Low-Drag Mk 82
• Low-Drag SAMP BL-70
• Low-Drag SAMP EU2