Dassault-Breguet Super Étendard
Super Étendard | |
---|---|
A Super Étendard at RIAT in 2005.
| |
Role | Strike aircraft
|
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 Dassault-Breguet Super Étendard (Étendard is French for "battle flag", cognate to English "standard") is a French carrier-borne strike fighter aircraft designed by Dassault-Breguet for service with the French Navy.
The aircraft is an advanced development of the
The Super Étendard was also operated by Iraq (on a temporary lease) and Argentina, which both deployed the aircraft during wartime.
Development
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 The Étendard IVM was originally to have been replaced by a navalised version of the SEPECAT Jaguar, designated as the Jaguar M; however the Jaguar M project was stalled by a combination of political problems and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. Specifically, 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.[2] In 1973, all development work on the Jaguar M was formally cancelled by the French government.[3]
There were several proposed aircraft to replace the Jaguar M, including the LTV A-7 Corsair II and the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk. Dassault pulled some strings with the French government and produced its own proposal to meet the requirement.[4] According to Bill Gunston and Peter Gilchrist, Dassault had played a significant role in the cancellation of the Jaguar M with the aim of creating a vacancy for their own proposal – the Super Étendard.[5] The Super Étendard was essentially an improved version of the existing Étendard IVM, outfitted with a more powerful engine, a new wing and improved avionics. Dassault sold its plane as the only fully French-made candidate, and as cheaper than the other contestants, using modern technology already proven in existing Dassault planes. Dassault's Super Étendard proposal was accepted by the French Navy in 1973, leading to a series of prototypes being quickly assembled.[6]
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,[6] made its maiden flight on 28 October 1974.[7][8][9] 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.[9] Dassault began making deliveries of the type to the French Navy in June 1978.[7][10]
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.[11]
The Argentine Navy was the only export customer. Argentina placed an order for 14 aircraft to meet their requirements for a capable new fighter that could operate from their sole aircraft carrier.[7] In 1983, all manufacturing activity was completed, the last delivery to the French Navy taking place that year.[9][12]
Design
The Super Étendard is a small, single-engined, mid-winged aircraft with an all-metal structure. Both the wings and
The main new weapon of the Super Étendard was the French anti-shipping missile, the Aérospatiale AM 39 Exocet.[6] The aircraft had a Thomson-CSF Agave radar, an updated version of the Cyrano IV used on the Dassault Mirage F1, which, amongst other functions, was essential to launch the Exocet missile.[6] One of the major technical advances of the Super Étendard was its onboard UAT-40 central computer; this managed most mission-critical systems, integrating navigational data and functions, radar information and display, and weapons targeting and controls.[13]
In the 1990s, significant modifications and upgrades were made to the type, including an updated UAT-90 computer and a new Thomson-CSF Anemone radar which provided nearly double the range of the previous Agave radar.
The Super Étendard could also deploy tactical nuclear weapons;
Operational history
Argentina
The
A first attempt to attack the British fleet was made on 2 May 1982, but this was abandoned due to in-flight-refuelling problems.
On May 30 two Super Étendards, one carrying Argentina's last remaining Exocet, escorted by four
Following the end of the conflict, by 1984 Argentina had received all the 14 Super Étendards ordered, and Exocets with which to arm them.
In 2009, an agreement was signed between Argentina and France to upgrade Argentina's remaining fleet of Super Étendards.[29] An earlier proposal to acquire former French Naval Super Étendards was rejected due to high levels of accumulated flight hours; instead equipment and hardware would be removed from retiring French airframes and installed into Argentine aircraft, effectively upgrading them to the Super Étendard Modernisé (SEM) standard.[30] By March 2014, while the Argentine Navy continued to seek the upgrade kits for 10 of its 11 remaining Super Étendards; this ambition appears to have been complicated by several factors, France has been non-committal regarding the sought sale; critically, political developments between France and the UK may potentially allow the UK to obstruct the supply of military equipment to Argentina such as the upgrade kits and the Exocet missile.[31]
In 2017 five Super Étendard Modernisé were purchased from France to bolster the fleet at a cost of €12.5 million, along with a simulator, eight spare engines, and a large batch of spares and tooling.[32][33][34][35] However, while these aircraft were delivered in 2019, in 2020 they were still awaiting the delivery of key spare parts and it was announced that they may not be in operational service for a further two years.[36] In 2021, it was reported that the aircraft also remained non-operational due to problems obtaining components for the Martin Baker ejection seats manufactured in the U.K.. As a result, alternative parts were being sought in the United States.[37] In early 2022, it was reported that the spare parts problem remained unresolved and the aircraft remained in storage.[38] On 17 May 2023, on the occasion of the 209th anniversary of the Argentine Navy, Argentinean Minister of Defense Jorge Taiana, announced the withdrawal from service of all the Super Étendards of the Aviación Naval Argentina.[39]
France
Deliveries of the Super Étendard to the French Navy started in 1978, with the first squadron, Flottille 11F becoming operational in February 1979. As they offered no air combat capabilities France had to extend useful life of its Crusaders fighters, as no replacement option was found.
In total, three operational squadrons and a training unit were equipped with the Super Étendard.
The first fighting operational missions took place in
From 1991, the original pure attack Étendard IVMs were withdrawn from French service;
The SEM also flew strike missions in
In March 2011, Étendards were deployed as a part of Task Force 473, during France's
Iraq
A total of five Super Étendards were loaned to Iraq in 1983 while the country was waiting for deliveries of Agave-equipped
Iraq typically deployed the Super Étendards in pairs, escorted by Mirage F1 fighters from bases in Southern Iraq; once inside the mission zone, the Super Étendards would search for targets using their onboard radar and engage suspected tankers at long range without visual identification.
Operators
- Argentine Navy originally received 14 aircraft, of which few are currently operational. A further 5 ex-French navy aircraft (Modernisé spec) were acquired for operational service and training/spare parts in 2017;[60] these aircraft remain non-operational as of 2021.[37] On 17 May 2023, the final withdrawal from service of all the Super Étendards of the Aviación Naval Argentina was announced.[61]
- French Navy received 71 aircraft; retired from active service on 12 July 2016.[1]
- Iraqi Air Force was loaned five French aircraft between 1983 and 1985; one was lost during the Iran–Iraq War, the remainder returned to France in 1985.[62]
Specifications
Data from All The World's Aircraft 1982–83;[16]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 14.31 m (46 ft 11 in)
- Wingspan: 9.6 m (31 ft 6 in)
- Height: 3.86 m (12 ft 8 in)
- Wing area: 28.4 m2 (306 sq ft)
- Empty weight: 6,500 kg (14,330 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 12,000 kg (26,455 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × Snecma Atar 8K-50 turbojet, 49 kN (11,000 lbf) thrust
Performance
- Maximum speed: 1,205 km/h (749 mph, 651 kn) [63]
- Range: 1,820 km (1,130 mi, 980 nmi) [64]
- Combat range: 850 km (530 mi, 460 nmi) with one AM39 Exocet missile on one wing pylon and one drop tank on opposite pylon, hi-lo-hi profile
- Service ceiling: 13,700 m (44,900 ft)
- Rate of climb: 100 m/s (20,000 ft/min) [65]
- Wing loading: 423 kg/m2 (87 lb/sq ft)
- Thrust/weight: 0.77 (Empty), 0.42 (MTOW)
Armament
- Guns: 2× 30 mm (1.18 in) DEFA 552 cannons with 125 rounds per gun
- Hardpoints: 4× underwing and 2× under-fuselage with a capacity of 2,100 kg (4,600 lb) maximum
- Rockets: 4× Matra rocket pods with 18× SNEB 68 mm rockets each
- Missiles:
- 1× AM-39 Anti-shipping missileor
- 1× Air-Sol Moyenne Portéenuclear armed missile or
- 2× AS-30Lor
- 2× Matra Magic Air-to-air missile
- 1× AM-39
- Bombs: Conventional unguided or "buddy" air refuelling pod[66]
See also
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists
- Iranian aerial victories during the Iran-Iraq war
- List of attack aircraft
- List of military aircraft of France
Current squadrons
- Flottille 17F
- 2da Escuadrilla Aeronaval de Caza y Ataque
Notes
- ^ a b c "Les Super Etendard français retirés du service" [The French Super Etendard retires from service] (in French). Mer et Marine. 13 July 2016.
- ^ Jackson 1992, p. 77.
- ^ Bowman 2007, p. 26.
- ^ "An Embarrassment of Aeroplanes". New Scientist. Vol. 56, no. 824. Reed Business Information. 14 December 1972. pp. 660–61. Archived from the original on 2016-04-16..
- ^ Gunston and Gilchrist 1993, p. 169.
- ^ a b c d e f Grolleau 2003, p. 40.
- ^ a b c Taylor 1982, p. 65.
- ^ Polmar 2006, p. 330.
- ^ a b c d Gunston and Gilchrist 1993, p. 170.
- ^ Friedman 2006, p. 159.
- ^ "France's Aerospace Industry – Programme by Programme." Flight International, 4 November 1978. p. 1647.
- ^ Michell 1994, p. 65.
- ^ Friedman 2006, pp. 159–60.
- ^ a b c d Friedman 2006, p. 160.
- ^ a b Grolleau 2003, pp. 40–41.
- ^ a b Taylor 1982, pp. 65–66.
- ^ Burden et al. 1986, p. 34.
- ^ Smith, Michael (8 March 2002), "SAS 'suicide mission' to wipe out Exocets", The Daily Telegraph, London, ENG, UK.
- ^ "Thatcher in the dark on sinking of Belgrano", The Times, London, ENG, UK, 27 June 2005.
- ^ a b Burden 1986, p. 35.
- ^ a b Huertas 1997, pp. 22–29.
- ^ Burden 1986, p. 36
- ^ Burden 1986, pp. 434, 438.
- ^ Freedman 2005, p. 482.
- ^ Freedman 2005, pp. 438, 482, 778.
- ^ Freedman 2005, p. 701.
- YouTube
- ^ Polmar 2006, pp. 329–30.
- ^ Cooperación argentino-francesa en defensa [-Argentine-French defense cooperation] (news) (in Spanish), Argentine Ministry of Defence, 2 November 2011, archived from the original on 2011-07-18
- ^ "Argentine Navy plans Super Étendard upgrade: Update." Jane's International Defence Review, 5 May 2009.
- ^ Gonzalez, Diego (10 March 2014). "Argentine Super Etendard modernisation hits major snags". IHS Jane's Defence Weekly.
- ISSN 0306-5634.
- ISSN 0306-5634.
- ^ Rivas, Santiago (14 May 2018). "Argentina finally buys five French Super Etendards". Janes.com. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
- ^ Charpentreau, Clément (17 May 2018). "Argentinian president approves lagging Super Etendard acquisition". Aerotime News Hub. Archived from the original on 26 September 2018. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
- ^ "Los Super Étendard argentinos estarían operativos en dos años". Infodefensa - Noticias de defensa, industria, seguridad, armamento, ejércitos y tecnología de la defensa.
- ^ a b "Argentina busca repuestos para los asientos eyectables de los Super Étendard Modernisé". Infodefensa - Noticias de defensa, industria, seguridad, armamento, ejércitos y tecnología de la defensa.
- ^ "Argentine Navy warplanes still grounded due to lack of British-made spare parts". MercoPress.
- ^ "Argentina retired Super Etendard jets that sank two UK warships". 21 May 2023. Retrieved 2023-05-23.
- ^ Jackson 2010, p. 76.
- ^ Jackson 1986, p.66.
- ^ Acig, archived from the original on 2013-10-07.
- ^ Koven, Ronald. "France: Shiites Planned More Strikes." Boston Globe, 18 November 1983.
- ^ Grolleau 2003, p.39.
- ^ Grolleau 2003, pp. 39–40.
- ^ Marie, Gaëtan (2016-11-07). "Dassault Etendard & Super Etendard". Gaëtan Marie's Aviation Profiles. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
- ^ Wall, Robert (9 June 2008). "Super Étendards in Afghanistan". Aviation Week. Archived from the original on 15 June 2013. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
- ^ "Libye : première mission aérienne pour la TF 473" [Libya: first TF 473 aerial mission]. Opération Harmattan (in French). French Ministry of Defense. Retrieved 2011-03-27.
- ^ "Libye : point de situation opération Harmattan n°6" [Libya: status of operation Harmattan nº 6] (in French). French Ministry of Defense. Archived from the original on 2011-05-05. Retrieved 2011-03-27.
- ^ French Carrier Strike Group to Deploy to Eastern Mediterranean with Largest Airwing Ever – Navyrecognition.com, 16 November 2015
- ^ Jackson 1986, p.69.
- ^ "Étendards in Iraq since October 8." Flight International, 19 November 1983. p. 1342.
- ^ Raj, Christopher S. "Shadow of Super Étendards over the Gulf." Strategic Analysis, 7(10). 1984. pp. 799–808.
- ^ Kupersmith 1993, p. 29.
- ^ Gunston and Gilchrist 1993, p. 171.
- ^ Kupersmith 1993, p. 30.
- ^ Kupersmith 1993, p. 43.
- ^ Cooper and Bishop 2003, p. 88.
- ^ a b Cooper 2004, p. 48.
- ^ https://www.infobae.com/politica/2017/11/07/argentina-compro-cinco-aviones-militares-a-francia/ Argentina compró cinco aviones militares a Francia, Infobae, 7 November 2017
- ^ "Argentina retired Super Etendard jets that sank two UK warships". 21 May 2023. Retrieved 2023-05-23.
- ^ Gwertzman, Bernard (28 June 1983). "FRENCH AGREE TO LEND IRAQ PLANES TO USE IN FIRING ITS EXOCET MISSILES". New York Times. Retrieved 2018-04-27.
- ^ "Dassault Super Etendard Carrier-based Navy Strike Fighter Aircraft – France". MilitaryFactory. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
- ^ Flight International 25–31 May 2004, p. 53.
- ^ Donald and Lake 1996, p. 142.
- ^ Jackson 1986, p. 62.
Bibliography
- Burden, Rodney A., Michael A. Draper, Douglas A. Rough, Colin A Smith and David Wilton. Falklands: The Air War. Twickenham, UK: British Air Review Group, 1986. ISBN 0-906339-05-7.
- Carbonel, Jean-Christophe. French Secret Projects 1: Post War Fighters. Manchester, UK: Crecy Publishing, 2016 ISBN 978-1-91080-900-6
- Cooper, Tom. Iranian F-14 Tomcat Units in Combat. Osprey Publishing, 2004. ISBN 1-841767-87-5.
- Donald, David and Jon Lake. Encyclopedia of World Military Aircraft. London, Aerospace Publishing, single volume ed., 1996. ISBN 1-874023-95-6.
- Freedman, Lawrence. The Official History of the Falklands Campaign: The 1982 Falklands War and Its Aftermath. Routledge, 2005. ISBN 0-714652-07-5.
- Friedman, Norman. The Naval Institute Guide to World Naval Weapon Systems, 5th ed. Naval Institute Press, 2006. ISBN 1-557502-62-5.
- Grolleau, Henri-Paul. "The Aéronavale Spearhead". Air International, January 2008, Vol 64 No 1. Stamford, UK: Key Publishing. ISSN 0306-5634, pp. 38–43.
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Further reading
- Lert, Frederic (2011). DASSAULT SUPER ETENDARD: De l'Etendard IV au Standard Modernise. Les Materiels de L'Armee De L'Air et de L'Aeronavale (in French). Vol. 10. Histoire and Collections. ISBN 978-2-35250-175-6. Archived from the originalon 2014-08-26. Retrieved 2014-08-23.
- Núñez Padin, Jorge Felix (2012). Núñez Padin, Jorge Felix (ed.). Dassault Super Etendard. Serie Aeronaval (in Spanish). Vol. 30. Bahía Blanca, Argentina: Fuerzas Aeronavales. ISBN 978-987-1682-12-6. Archived from the originalon 2014-05-09. Retrieved 2014-08-23.