Misplaced Pages

#881118

65-619: 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 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

130-407: A complement to the heraldic device shown on shields. The maritime flag also develops in the medieval period. The medieval Japanese Sashimono carried by foot-soldiers are a parallel development. Some medieval free cities or communes did not have coats of arms, and used war flags that were not derived from a coat of arms. Thus, the city of Lucerne used a blue-white flag as a field sign from

195-622: A few artillery rounds were fired at the French peace keepers. On November 10, a Super Étendard dodged a Syrian SA-7 shoulder-launched missile near Bourj el-Barajneh while flying over Druze positions. On 17 November 1983, the same airplanes attacked and destroyed an Islamic Amal training camp in Baalbeck after a terrorist attack on French paratroopers in Beirut . From 1991, the original pure attack Étendard IVMs were withdrawn from French service; though

260-512: A flag, are also called vexilloid or "flag-like", for example the Roman Eagle standard or the dragon standard of the Sarmatians . The Roman Vexillum itself is also "flag-like" in the sense that it was suspended from a horizontal crossbar as opposed to a simple flagpole. Use of simple flags as military ensigns becomes common during the medieval period, developing in parallel with heraldry as

325-710: A frigate, but had been confused by its defences and re-targeted the Atlantic Conveyor . Both missiles struck the container ship on her port quarter and warheads exploded either after penetrating the ship's hull, or on impact. Witness Prince Andrew reported that debris caused "splashes in the water about a quarter of a mile away". Twelve men were killed and the survivors were taken to HMS Hermes . Atlantic Conveyor sank while under tow three days later. On 30 May, two Super Étendards, one carrying Argentina's last remaining air-launched Exocet, escorted by four Douglas A-4C Skyhawks , each with two 500 lb bombs, took off to attack

390-686: A grave. Field signs were used in early warfare at least since the Bronze Age . The word standard itself is from an Old Frankish term for a field sign (not necessarily a flag). The use of flags as field signs apparently emerges in Asia, during the Iron Age, possibly in either China or India. in Achaemenid Persia , each army division had its own standard, and "all officers had banners over their tents". Early field signs that include, but are not limited to

455-518: A group of escorts 40 miles south of the main body of ships. Two of the attacking Skyhawks were shot down: one by a Sea Dart missile fired by HMS Exeter , and while the fate of the Exocet has never been established beyond doubt, the crew of HMS Avenger claimed that their 4.5-inch gun had shot it down. No damage was caused to any British vessels. HMS Glamorgan was a County-class destroyer launched in 1964. On 12 June 1982 an MM38 Exocet missile

520-671: A key role in the Falklands War between Argentina and the United Kingdom in 1982. The 2nd Naval Squadron was stationed at the Río Grande, Tierra del Fuego naval air base; during the conflict. The threat posed to British naval forces led to the planning of Operation Mikado and other proposed infiltration missions to raid the airbase, aiming to destroy the Super Étendards to prevent their use. A total of four Super Étendards were operational during

585-681: A marginal role as a land-attack missile . The Block 3 Exocet is lighter than the previous MM40 Block 2 Exocet. 45 Block 3 Exocets were ordered by the French Navy in December 2008 for its ships which were carrying Block 2 missiles, namely Horizon -class and Aquitaine -class frigates. From 2021, the Block 3 upgrade was also being extended to three of the La Fayette-class frigates selected for life extension refits. These are not to be new productions but

650-512: A new missile, the MM40 Block 3. It has an improved range, in excess of 180 kilometres (97 nautical miles) – through the use of a Microturbo TRI-40 turbojet engine, and includes four air intakes to provide continuous airflow to the power plant during high-G manoeuvres. The Block 3 missile accepts GPS guidance system waypoint commands, which allow it to attack naval targets from different angles and to strike land targets, giving it

715-538: A part of Task Force 473, during France's Opération Harmattan in support of UN resolution 1973 during the Libyan conflict. They were paired again with Dassault Rafales on interdiction missions. The final Super Étendards in French naval aviation were in one "flottille" (squadron) called flottille 17F . All Super Étendards were retired from French service on 12 July 2016 to be replaced by the Dassault Rafale M, 42 years after

SECTION 10

#1732852472882

780-524: A rate of 15 per year. During the 2000s, further improvements included significantly improved self-defence ECM capability to better evade enemy detection and attacks, cockpit compatibility with night vision goggles , a new inertial data system partly integrating GPS , and compatibility with the Damocles Laser designator pod. The Super Étendard could also deploy tactical nuclear weapons; initially these were unguided gravity bombs only, however, during

845-431: A turn was ordered to present the stern to the missile. The turn prevented the missile from striking the ship's side and penetrating the hull; instead, it hit the deck coaming at an angle, near the port Seacat missile launcher , skidded along the deck and exploded, making a 10 ft × 15 ft (3 m × 5 m) hole in the hangar deck and a 5 ft × 4 ft (1.5 m × 1.2 m) hole in

910-400: Is guided inertially in mid-flight and turns on active radar homing late in its flight to find and hit its target. As a countermeasure against air defence around the target, it maintains a very low altitude while inbound, staying just one to two meters above the sea surface. Due to the effect of the radar horizon , this means that the target may not detect an incoming attack until the missile

975-419: Is only 6,000 metres (3.7 mi) from impact. This leaves little time for reaction and stimulated the design of close-in weapon systems (CIWS). Its solid propellant rocket motor gives the Exocet a maximum range of 70 kilometres (43 mi; 38 nmi). It was replaced on the Block 3 MM40 ship-launched version of the missile with a solid-propellant booster and a turbojet sustainer engine which extends

1040-601: Is the French word for flying fish , from the Latin exocoetus , a transliteration of the Greek name for the fish that sometimes flew into a boat: ἐξώκοιτος ( exōkoitos ), literally "lying down outside ( ἒξω , κεῖμαι ), sleeping outside". The Exocet is built by MBDA , a European missile company. Development began in 1967 by Nord as a ship-launched weapon named the MM38. A few years later, Aerospatiale and Nord merged. The basic body design

1105-435: Is to begin delivery to the French Navy in December 2022 with 55 new missiles ordered in addition to 45 “MM40 Block 3c kits” to update existing Block 3 missiles to the Block 3c configuration. In September 2023, tests of the missile conducted by the frigate Alsace confirmed the variant as ready for operational service. In 1982, during the Falklands War , Argentine Navy Dassault-Breguet Super Étendard warplanes carrying

1170-656: The Aérospatiale AM 39 Exocet . 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. 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. In

1235-599: The Kosovo war , the war in Afghanistan and the military intervention in Libya . The Super Étendard was also operated by Iraq (on a temporary lease) and Argentina, which both deployed the aircraft during wartime. Argentina's Navy use of the Super Étendard and the Exocet missile during the 1982 Falklands War led to the aircraft gaining considerable popular recognition. The Super Étendard

1300-531: The merchant ship Atlantic Conveyor , which was carrying several helicopters and other supplies to the front line. The Exocets that struck Atlantic Conveyor had been inadvertently redirected by decoy chaff deployed as a defensive measure by other ships; Both Sheffield and Atlantic Conveyor sank whilst under tow some days later following these Exocet strikes. On May 30 two Super Étendards, one carrying Argentina's last remaining Exocet, escorted by four A-4C Skyhawks each with 3 500lb bombs, took off to attack

1365-517: The 1980–88 Iraq-Iran War as they could launch Exocet strikes on Iranian merchant shipping traversing the Persian Gulf . The Super Étendards began maritime operations over Persian Gulf in March 1984; a total of 34 attacks were carried out on Iranian shipping through the rest of 1984. Tankers of any nationality that were carrying Iranian crude oil were also subject to Iraqi attacks. Iraq typically deployed

SECTION 20

#1732852472882

1430-495: The 1990s the Super Étendard was extensively upgraded, enabling the deployment of the Air-Sol Moyenne Portée , a ramjet -powered air-launched nuclear missile . The aircraft was also refitted with the ability to operate a range of laser-guided bombs and, to enable the type to replace the retiring Étendard IV in the reconnaissance mission, the Super Étendard was fitted to carry a specialist reconnaissance pod as well. However,

1495-408: 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. Other upgrades at this time included an extensively redesigned cockpit with HOTAS controls, and airframe life-extension work was undertaken; a total of 48 aircraft received these upgrades, at

1560-566: The AM39 air-launched version of the Exocet caused damage which sank the Royal Navy destroyer HMS  Sheffield on 4 May 1982. Two more Exocets struck the 15,000-ton merchant ship Atlantic Conveyor on 25 May. Two MM38 ship-to-ship missiles were removed from the destroyer ARA Seguí , a former US Navy Allen M. Sumner -class destroyer, and transferred to an improvised launcher for land use. The missiles were launched on 12 June 1982 and one hit

1625-598: 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. In 2017 five Super Étendard Modernisé were purchased from France to bolster

1690-720: The Avibras company in collaboration with MBDA, was tested on an MM40 missile of the Brazilian Navy . Besides the French, the Block 3 has been ordered by several other navies including that of Greece, the UAE , Chile, Peru, Qatar, Oman, Indonesia and Morocco. The chief competitors to the Exocet are the US-made Harpoon , the Italian Otomat , Israel Gabriel-V , the Swedish RBS 15 and

1755-531: The Chinese Yingji series. The “Block 3c” variant integrates a digital Radio Frequency (RF) seeker to the missile that has been developed by Thales. The Block 3c variant is described as more resistant to jamming systems and may be able to recognize surface vessels, based on the use of advanced wave forms. Block 3 missiles introduced a longer 200 kilometer range but retained the same RF seeker as Block 2. This technology remained non-digital. The Block 3c variant

1820-449: The Exocet threat. A major intelligence operation was initiated to prevent the Argentine Navy from acquiring more of the weapons on the international market. The operation included British intelligence agents claiming to be arms dealers able to supply large numbers of Exocets to Argentina, who diverted Argentina from pursuing sources which could genuinely supply a few missiles. France denied deliveries of Exocet AM39s purchased by Peru to avoid

1885-503: The Falklands War). There was no evidence of an explosion, although burning propellant from the rocket motor caused fires which could not be checked as firefighting equipment had been put out of action. Atlantic Conveyor was a 14,950 ton roll-on/roll-off container ship that had been hastily converted to carry aircraft on her deck. She was carrying helicopters and supplies, including cluster bombs. Two Exocet missiles had been fired at

1950-518: The Flottile 16.F was hit by a Serb SAM on 15 April 1994, while flying a reconnaissance mission over Gorazde , Bosnia, as part of Operation Deny Flight . The pilot managed to safely land on Clemenceau despite heavy damage on its tailpipe, elevators and fin. The SEM also flew strike missions in Operation Enduring Freedom . Mission Héraclès starting 21 November 2001 saw the deployment of

2015-510: The Jaguar M with the aim of creating a vacancy for their own proposal – the Super Étendard. 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

Dassault-Breguet Super Étendard - Misplaced Pages Continue

2080-405: 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. In 1973, all development work on the Jaguar M

2145-528: The Martin Baker ejection seats manufactured in the U.K.. As a result, alternative parts were being sought in the United States. In early 2022, it was reported that the spare parts problem remained unresolved and the aircraft remained in storage. 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

2210-581: The Super Étendard. The Super Étendards would operate from both of France's aircraft carriers at that time, Clemenceau and Foch ; either carrier's air wing typically comprised 16 Super Étendards, 10 F-8 Crusaders , 3 Étendard IVPs , 7 Breguet Alizé anti-submarine aircraft, as well as numerous helicopters. The first fighting operational missions took place in Lebanon during Operation Olifant. On 22 September 1983, French Navy Super Étendards operating from Foch bombed and destroyed Syrian forces positions after

2275-462: 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. While tankers would typically be struck by a launched Exocet, they were often only lightly damaged. On 2 April 1984, an Iraqi Super Étendard

2340-539: The Super Étendards of the Aviación Naval Argentina. 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

2405-462: The aircraft at a rough rate of two per month. 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. In 1983, all manufacturing activity was completed, the last delivery to the French Navy taking place that year. The Super Étendard is a small, single-engined, mid-winged aircraft with an all-metal structure. Both

2470-467: The aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and its Super Étendards in Afghanistan. Operation Anaconda , starting on 2 March 2002 saw extensive use of the Super Étendard in support of French and allied ground troops. Super Étendards returned to operations over Afghanistan in 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2010–2011. One of their main roles was to carry laser designation pods to illuminate targets for Dassault Rafales . In March 2011, Étendards were deployed as

2535-563: The aircraft is unable to perform naval landings without jettisoning unexpended ordnance. 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 . Between August and November 1981, five Super Étendards and five anti-ship sea-skimming Exocet missiles were shipped to Argentina. The Super Étendards, armed with Exocet anti-ship missiles played

2600-505: The carrier HMS Invincible . Argentine intelligence had sought to determine the position of Invincible from analysis of aircraft flight routes from the task force to the islands. However, the British had a standing order that all aircraft conduct a low level transit when leaving or returning to the ship to disguise her position. This tactic compromised the Argentine attack, which focused on

2665-558: The carrier HMS Invincible . Following the end of the conflict, by 1984 Argentina had received all the 14 Super Étendards ordered, and Exocets with which to arm them. Super Étendards performed qualifications on the aircraft carrier ARA 25 de Mayo until the ship's final retirement. Since 1993, Argentine pilots have practised on board the neighbouring Brazilian Navy's aircraft carrier São Paulo . Touch-and-go landing exercises were also common on US Navy carriers during Gringo-Gaucho manoeuvres and joint exercises. In 2009, an agreement

Dassault-Breguet Super Étendard - Misplaced Pages Continue

2730-408: The conflict. 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 4 May, two Super Étendards, guided by a Lockheed P-2H Neptune , each launched one Exocet at the British destroyer HMS  Sheffield , with one missile crippling Sheffield . On 25 May, another attack by two Super Étendards resulted in two missiles hitting

2795-464: The conversion of older Block 2 missiles to the Block 3 standard. An MM40 Block 3 last qualification firing took place on the Île du Levant test range on 25 April 2007 and series manufacturing began in October 2008. The first firing of the Block 3 from a warship took place on 18 March 2010, from the French Navy air defence frigate Chevalier Paul . In 2012, a new motor, designed and manufactured in Brazil by

2860-489: The country was waiting for deliveries of Agave-equipped Dassault Mirage F1s capable of launching Exocet missiles that had been ordered; the first of these aircraft arrived in Iraq on 8 October 1983. The provision of Super Étendards to Iraq was politically controversial, the United States and Iraq's neighbour Iran were vocal in their opposition while Saudi Arabia supported the loan; the aircraft were seen as an influential factor in

2925-464: The destroyer HMS  Glamorgan . Sheffield was a Type 42 guided missile destroyer . On 4 May 1982, Sheffield was at defence watches (second-degree readiness) the southernmost of three Type 42 destroyers when she was hit by one of two AM39 air-launched Exocet missiles fired by Argentine Super Étendard strike fighters . The second missile splashed into the sea about half-mile off her port beam . The missile that struck Sheffield impacted on

2990-446: The fleet at a cost of €12.5 million, along with a simulator, eight spare engines, and a large batch of spares and tooling. 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. In 2021, it was reported that the aircraft also remained non-operational due to problems obtaining components for

3055-589: The galley below. The blast travelled forwards and down, and the missile body, still travelling forwards, penetrated the hangar door, causing the ship's fuelled and armed Westland Wessex HAS.3 helicopter (XM837) to explode and start a severe fire in the hangar. Fourteen crew members were killed. In the years after the Falklands War, it was revealed that the British government and the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) had been extremely concerned at

3120-408: The mid 13th century, without deriving it from a heraldic shield design. Exocet The Exocet ( French pronunciation: [ɛɡzɔsɛ] ) is a French-built anti-ship missile whose various versions can be launched from surface vessels , submarines , helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft . The missile's name was given by M. Guillot, then the technical director at Nord Aviation . It

3185-695: The missiles. During the Iran–Iraq War , on 17 May 1987, an Iraqi aircraft identified as a Mirage F1 (but was in fact a modified Dassault Falcon 50 ) fired two Exocet missiles at the American frigate USS  Stark . Both missiles struck the port side of the ship near the bridge. No weapons were fired in defence: The Phalanx CIWS remained in standby mode and the Mark 36 SRBOC countermeasures were not armed. Thirty-seven United States Navy personnel were killed and twenty-one were wounded. The ship did not sink, and

3250-413: 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

3315-823: The possibility that Peru might supply them to Argentina because they knew that payment would be made with credit from the Central Bank of Peru . British intelligence had detected the guarantee was a deposit of two hundred million dollars from the Andean Lima Bank, an owned subsidiary of the Italian Banco Ambrosiano . Exocet missiles were used by Iraq mainly as part of the Tanker War , the Aérospatiale SA 321 Super Frelon , Dassault-Breguet Super Étendard and Dassault Mirage F1 were aircraft used by Iraq to launch

SECTION 50

#1732852472882

3380-473: The range of the missile to more than 180 kilometres (110 mi; 97 nmi). The submarine-launched version places the missile inside a launch capsule . Replacement Future Cruise/Anti-Ship Weapon is under development. The Exocet has been manufactured in versions including: In February 2004, the Direction Générale pour l'Armement (DGA) notified MBDA of a contract for the design and production of

3445-513: The reconnaissance version of the Étendard IV, the IVP, remained in service until July 2000. In response, the Super Étendards underwent a series of upgrades throughout the 1990s to add new capabilities and update existing systems for use in the modern battlefield. Designated Super Étendard Modernisé (SEM), the first combat missions for the type came during NATO's Allied Force operations over Serbia in 1999 flying 400 combat missions. An Étendard IVPM from

3510-554: The starboard side at deck level 2, travelling through the junior ratings' scullery and breaching the Forward Auxiliary Machinery Room/Forward Engine Room bulkhead 2.4 metres (7 ft 10 in) above the waterline, creating a hole in the hull roughly 1.2 by 3 m (4 by 10 ft). It appears that the warhead did not explode. Twenty members of her crew were killed and 26 injured. The ship foundered while under tow on 10 May. The loss of Sheffield

3575-492: The subsonic attack jet performed its first flight. The Super Étendard's last operational deployment from Charles de Gaulle was in support of Opération Chammal against Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria, which began in late 2015. On 16 March 2016, the aircraft undertook its final launch from Charles de Gaulle ahead of its final withdrawal from service in July. A total of five Super Étendards were loaned to Iraq in 1983 while

3640-561: The time by the perceived inadequacy of the Royal Navy's anti-missile defences against the Exocet and the missile's potential to tip the naval war decisively in favour of the Argentine forces. A scenario was envisioned in which one or both of the force's two aircraft carriers ( Invincible and Hermes ) were destroyed or incapacitated by Exocet attacks, which would make recapturing the Falklands much more difficult. Actions were taken to contain

3705-415: 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. The main new weapon of the Super Étendard was the French anti-shipping missile,

3770-457: Was a deep shock to the British public and government. The official Royal Navy Board of Inquiry Report stated that evidence indicates that the warhead did not detonate. During the four and a half days that the ship remained afloat, five salvage inspections were made and a number of photographs were taken. Members of the crew were interviewed and testimony was given by Exocet specialists (the Royal Navy had 15 surface combat ships armed with Exocets in

3835-403: 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

3900-526: Was based on the Nord AS-30 air-to-ground tactical missile. The sea-launched MM38 entered service in 1975, whilst the air-launched AM39 Exocet began development in 1974 and entered service with the French Navy five years later in 1979. The relatively compact missile is designed for attacking small- to medium-size warships (e.g., frigates , corvettes , and destroyers), although multiple hits are effective against larger vessels, such as aircraft carriers. It

3965-412: Was fired from an improvised shore-based launcher as she was steaming at about 20 knots (37 km/h) 18 nautical miles (33 km) offshore. The first attempt to fire a missile did not result in a launch; on the second attempt, a missile was launched but did not acquire the target. The third attempt resulted in a missile tracking Glamorgan . The incoming Exocet missile was also spotted on Glamorgan and

SECTION 60

#1732852472882

4030-522: Was formally cancelled by the French government. 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. According to Bill Gunston and Peter Gilchrist, Dassault had played a significant role in the cancellation of

4095-776: Was reportedly shot down by a AIM-7E-2 missile fired by an Iranian F-4 Phantom II piloted by Khosrow Adibi over Kharg Island . Separately, on 26 July and 7 August 1984, claims of Super Étendard losses to Iranian Grumman F-14 Tomcats were reported. Iran claimed a total of three Super Étendards to have been shot down by Iranian interceptors ; France stated that four of the five leased aircraft were returned to France in 1985. Data from All The World's Aircraft 1982–83 ; General characteristics Performance Armament Related development Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era Related lists Current squadrons War flag Sound trumpets! Let our bloody colours wave! And either victory, or else

4160-440: Was signed between Argentina and France to upgrade Argentina's remaining fleet of Super Étendards. 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. By March 2014, while

4225-589: Was used by Iraq to attack oil tankers and merchant shipping in the Persian Gulf during the Iraq-Iran War . In French service, the Super Étendard was replaced by the Dassault Rafale in 2016. 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

#881118