EMBARKED STRIKE FIGHTER

In view of re-equipping the attack squadrons (17F, 14F, 11F) of the French navy, many solutions had been viewed :

• The Jaguar M.
• The A-4M Skyhawk II.

• The A-7E Corsair II.

• A naval version of the Mirage F-1.

• And finally, the Super-Etendard.

The Super-Etendard (SUE) had been selected on March 23rd 1973, this aircraft is derived from Etendard IV M, an aircraft built during the 50-60's for the French navy.

The main differences between the Super-Etendard and the Etendard IV are :

• A new Atar 8 K-50 turbojet.
• A modernized weapon system with an Agave radar and a HUD (Head Up Display).

On September 4th 1973 hundred aircraft would be acquired by the French Navy, the first prototypes were in fact modified Etendard IVMs (N°13, 18 and 68). The first prototype (used for engine and aerodynamics trials) flew on October 28th 1974 at Istres AFB piloted by Jacques Jesberger, the second one flew on March 9th 1975 at Cazaux AFB with modified wings, and the third one (equipped with the weapon system) flew on March 28th 1975 at Istres AFB.

Finally, seventy-one aircraft have been ordered by the French navy, they were delivered to the 11F, 14F, 17F and 59S squadrons between January 1978 and March 1983. The 11F squadron was the first one equipped with Super-Etendards. The Super-Etendard has been upgraded from 1991 to 1998. There are four variants of the Upgraded Super-Etendard :

/	Standard 1	Standard 2	Standard 3	Standard 4
Equipments	New calculator (UAT-40 replaced by a UAT-90). BGS. Upgraded Cockpit. New HUD.	New radar (Agave replaced by Anémone). BAIR.	Atlis II. AS-30L. GBU-12/ 14/ 16.	Barracuda. Phimat. recce ability.
Number of aircraft	0	36	18	some ex-standard 2 examples will be upgraded in 2001.

Original cockpit of Super-Etendard.

Cockpit of upgraded Super-Etendard.

It is now the master-piece of the French Navy strike squadrons, it will be replaced by the Rafale M in strike role in 2010 and it will replace the Etendard IVP in 2000 in recce role.

The Super-Etendards operate from the CV Foch, NAS Landivisiau and soon from CVN Charles de Gaulle under the colors of the 11F and 17F squadrons. The Super-Etendard has been also used by the Argentinian Navy (14 have been ordered but only 3 are still flying) since July 1979, they have taken part in the Falklands war in 1982 armed with AM-39 Exocets. It was also also used by Irak (five were rent in February 1983, waiting Mirage F-1 EQ) and they attacked many Iranian tankers with their AM-39 Exocet. With the French Navy it took part in Lebanese, Yugoslavian and Kosovo wars.

 

Specifications :

/	(US)	(FR)
LENGTH	46 ft 11 in	14. 31 m
WINGSPAN	31 ft 6 in	9. 6 m
HEIGHT	12 ft 8 in	3. 86 m
WEIGHTS	14 330 lb (empty)/ 26 455 lb (full)	6 500 kg (empty)/ 12 000 kg (full)
MAX SPEED	733 mph	Mach 1, 3
RANGE	920 nm	1 700 km
POWER	11 025 lb	49 kN

 1/ Weapons

 - self-defence :

• Two 30 mm DEFA cannons.

- air-defence :

• R 550 Magic II short range air-to-air missile.
• AIM-9 Sidewinder short range air-to-air missile.

- strike :

• ASMP stand-off nuclear weapon.
• AM-39 Exocet air-to-surface missile.
• AS-30L air-to-ground guided missile.
• Bombs.
• Rockets.

2/ Missions

Super-Etendards assume the following duties :

• Air cover of the fleet.
• CAS.
• Conventional strikes.
• Nuclear strikes.
• Photographic reconnaissance (in 2000).