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A Super Étendard at RIAT in 2005. | |
Role | Strike fighter |
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National origin | France |
Manufacturer | Dassault-Breguet |
First flight | 28 October 1974 |
Introduction | June 1978 |
Retired | July 2016 (French Navy) |
Primary users | French Naval Aviation (historical) Argentine Naval Aviation (historical) Iraqi Air Force (historical) |
Produced | 1974–1983 |
Number built | 85 |
Developed from | Dassault Étendard IV |
The aircraft is an advanced development of the Étendard IVM, which it replaced. The Super Étendard first flew in October 1974 and entered French service in June 1978. French Super Étendards have served in several conflicts such as the Kosovo war, the war in Afghanistan and the military intervention in Libya.
The Super Étendard is a small, single-engined, mid-winged aircraft with an all-metal structure. Both the wings and tailplane are swept, with the folding wings having a sweepback of about 45 degrees, while the aircraft is powered by a non-afterburning SNECMA Atar 8K-50 turbojet with a rating of 49 kN (11,025 lbf). Its performance was not much better than the Étendard IV, but its avionics were significantly improved.
Ceiling
Combat RANGE
Aircraft Speed
Max Crew
The Argentine Naval Aviation decided to buy 14 Super Étendards in 1979 after the United States put an arms embargo in place, due to the Dirty War and refused to supply spare parts for Argentina's fleet of A-4Q Skyhawks.
Deliveries of the Super Étendard to the French Navy started in 1978, with the first squadron, Flottille 11F.
On May 30 two Super Étendards, one carrying Argentina's last remaining Exocet, escorted by four A-4C Skyhawks each with two 500lb bombs, took off to attack the carrier HMS Invincible.