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Dassault-Breguet Super Étendard

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Super Étendard
A Super Étendard performs a touch-and-go landing on the flight deck of the USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74).
Role Attack aircraft
Manufacturer Dassault-Breguet
First flight 28 October 1974
Introduction June 1978
Status Active
Primary users French Navy
Argentine Navy
Iraqi Air Force
Produced 1977–1983
Number built 85
Developed from Dassault Étendard IV

The Dassault-Breguet Super Étendard (Étendard is French for "battle standard") is a French carrier-borne strike fighter aircraft designed for service with the French Navy. The aircraft entered service in June 1978 and was first used in combat by Argentina during the 1982 Falklands War.

Design and development

The Super Étendard is a development of the earlier Étendard IVM that was originally to have been replaced by a navalised version of the SEPECAT Jaguar (the Jaguar M), until this plan was stalled by political problems, together with problems with operating the Jaguar aboard ships, including the inability to land back on a carrier after an engine failure. Instead, Dassault proposed an improved version of the Étendard IVM, with a more powerful engine, a new wing and improved avionics. This proposal was accepted by the French Navy in 1973 as the Super Étendard.[1]

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 9K-50 turbojet with a rating of 49 kN (11,025 lbf). It is fitted with a Thomson-CSF Agave radar, closely integrated with the new air-launched version of Aérospatiale's anti-shipping missile, the AM 39 Exocet, which forms the main anti-ship armament of the aircraft. French Étendards could also carry tactical nuclear weapons.[1][2]

The first of three prototypes, a IVM modified with the new engine and some of the new avionics,[1] made its maiden flight on 28 October 1974.[3] The French Navy initially ordered 60 of the new model, with options for a further 20, but budget cuts lead to only 71 being purchased in the end, with deliveries starting in June 1978, while the Argentinian Navy ordered a further 14.[3] Production was completed in 1983.[4]

Operational history

Argentina

File:2da Escuadrilla Aeronaval de Caza y Ataque.png
2nd Sqd insignia

The Argentine Naval Aviation decided to buy 14 Super Étendards in 1980, after the United States put an arms embargo in place—due to the Dirty War—and refused to supply spare parts for their A-4Q Skyhawks. Assigned to 2nd Naval Air Fighter/Attack Squadron, Argentine pilots used French flight trainers between November 1980 and August 1981 in France, but at the time of the Falklands War, they had received only 45 hours of actual flight time in the aircraft.[5] Between August and November 1981, five Super Étendards and five Exocets were shipped to Argentina. All five of the missiles were used during the conflict, with one missile hitting the British destroyer HMS Sheffield and two the merchant aircraft transporter Atlantic Conveyor. Two missiles were used in each of those attacks.

Touch and go on USS Ronald Reagan

The fifth missile was launched in an attack intended to strike against the British aircraft carrier HMS Invincible but the attacking aircraft failed to find their target.[6] (A sixth Exocet, which damaged HMS Glamorgan, was a land-launched ship's missile, set up in an improvised truck-trailer platform by Argentine technicians.[7])

Once the conflict was over, Super Etendards performed qualifications on aircraft carrier ARA 25 de Mayo until the ship's final retirement [8] From 2001, qualifications are made on Brazilian Navy carrier São Paulo [9] and/or touch-and-go on US Navy carriers when they are in transit within Argentine coastal waters. [10]

As of 2010, Argentine Super Étendards are still in service [11] and French cooperation to upgrade the aircraft was announced.[12][13]

France

Deliveries of the Super Étendard to the French Navy started in 1978, with the first squadron, Flotille 11F becoming operational in February 1979. In total, three operational squadrons and a training unit were equipped with the Super Étendard.[1]

The first operational missions took place in Lebanon during Operation Olifant. On 22 September 1983, French Navy Super Étendards operating from the aircraft carrier Foch bombed and destroyed Syrian forces positions after a few artillery rounds were fired at the French peace keepers.[14] On 17 November 1983, the same airplanes attacked and destroyed a Hizbollah training camp in Baalbeck after a terrorist attack on French paratroopers in Beirut.

Launch from Charles de Gaulle

France's Super Étendards were modified to carry the ramjet powered Air-Sol Moyenne Portée air-launched nuclear missile.[1] From 1991, the original Étendard IVMs were withdrawn from French service,[15] (although the reconnaissance version of the Étendard IV, the IVP remained in service until July 2000[16]) and the Super Étendards underwent a series of upgrades throughout the 1990s to better suit them to modern warfare. These modifications included a new Thomson-CSF Anemone radar, with nearly twice the range of the previous Agave radar, the ability to carry and target the latest generation of laser-guided bombs and missiles, improved self defence ECM systems and the ability to carry a reconnaissance pod.[17] These uprated aircraft, designated Super Étendard Modernisé (SEM) participated in NATO's Allied Force operations over Kosovo in 1999, flying over 400 combat missions with 73% of the assigned objectives destroyed : the best performance of all the air forces involved in the missions over Kosovo. The SEM also flew strike missions in Operation Enduring Freedom.

Operation Héraclès starting 21 November 2001 saw the deployment of the Charles de Gaulle and its Super Étendard 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 Étendard's returned to operations over Afghanistan in 2007 and 2008. One of their main roles was to carry laser designation pods to illuminate targets for Dassault Rafales.[18]

All Super Étendards are expected to be retired from French service by 2010, to be replaced from 2006 onwards with Dassault's Rafale M.[citation needed]

Iraq

Five Super Étendards were loaned to Iraq in 1983 while the country waited for deliveries of Agave equipped Dassault Mirage F1s capable of launching Exocet missiles that had been ordered, arriving in Iraq on 8 October 1983.[19] These aircraft used Exocets with some success against shipping (particularly tankers) sailing to and from Iranian ports, 51 attacks in total in the Persian Gulf before being returned to France in 1985.[citation needed] At least two were shot down during the spring and summer of 1984 by Iranian F-14s, while Iran claims to have shot down a third one. Of the two aircraft destroyed one was indeed shot down, the other was only damaged but crashed whilst trying to return to base. Only three aircraft were returned to France.[20]

Operators

Argentine Navy's Super Étendard
 Argentina
 France
 Iraq
  • Iraqi Air Force was loaned five French aircraft between 1983 and 1985. Only three returned.

Accidents and incidents

Argentina

  • 1 Aug 1989, 0760 3-A-210. Pilot Lt Carlos Manchinelli died.
  • 11 Dic 1989, 0762 3-A-212 engine stopped. Pilot Lt Félix Médici ejected safely.
  • 29 May 1993, 0754 3-A-203 ( Falklands veteran aircraft ) Pilot Lt Sergio Marquez died.

France

  • On 27 May 1982, a Super Étendard crashed off the coast of Toulon; the pilot was killed.
  • In September 1986, a Super Étendard crashed into the Mediterranean Sea; the pilot ejected.
  • During the night of 2 April 1987, a Super Étendard disappeared during a training flight north of the Île Vierge lighthouse off the northwestern coast of Brittany. Neither the aircraft nor the pilot were found.[21][verification needed]
  • In July 1987, a Super Étendard crashed in a forest in Ille-et-Vilaine; the pilot ejected.
  • During the night of 17 July 1988, Super Étendard 54[specify] crashed during a carrier landing on the French aircraft carrier Clemenceau; the pilot was killed.
  • On 31 May 1990, a Super Étendard pilot ejected 110 km off the coast of Hyères. He was rescued by a Dauphin helicopter from the French Navy's squadron 23S[22]
  • On 27 March 1994, Super Étendard 5 from the French Navy's flotilla 11F crashed in the Adriatic Sea; the pilot was rescued from the water by a helicopter from squadron 23S.[22]
  • On 26 January 1996, a Super Étendard crashed off the coast of La Ciotat; the pilot ejected.
  • On 14 April 2004, Super Étendard Modernisé 35 from the French Navy's flotilla 17F missed a landing on the French aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle, crashing on the runway; the pilot was unharmed.[23]
  • On 7 December 2005, Super Étendard Modernisé 45 from the French Navy's flotilla 11F (registered F-XCKA) was lost at sea in the Gulf of Ajaccio after its engine ingested a bird. The pilot ejected and was only mildly injured.[24][25]
  • On 21 March 2006, a bird shattered the canopy of Super Étendard Modernisé 3 from the French Navy's flotilla 11F, over Pontorson. The pilot made a forced landing in a field in Dinard.[26]
  • On August 24, 2006, around 18:30 (local time), Super Étendard Modernisé 43 from the French Navy's flotilla 11F landed hard at BAN Landivisiau and was damaged; there were no injuries.[27]
  • On 21 March 2008, a Super Étendard Modernisé from the French Navy's flotilla 17F was lost at sea south of Cavalaire-sur-Mer during a training flight. The pilot ejected safely.[28]
  • On 1 October 2008, at 17:10 (local time), two Super Étendards Modernisés (numbers 38 and 49) from the French Navy's flotilla 11F collided over the bay of Lannion, about 27 km north of Morlaix. They were conducting a training flight originating from BAN Landivisiau. Both pilots ejected, but only one was rescued alive.[29] The minesweeper Lyre (M648) was not able to locate the wreckage in over 60 m of water, and the rescue attempts for the second downed pilot (lieutenant de vaisseau Sébastien Lhéritier) were called off the next day at noon.[30] On October 17, wreckage and the missing pilot's body were found 20 km north of Île de Batz with the assistance of robotic submersibles.[31][32]

Specifications

Orthographically projected diagram of the Dassault-Breguet Super Étendard.
Orthographically projected diagram of the Dassault-Breguet Super Étendard.
External images
Super Etendard
image icon Older Etendards and Super Etendards on FOCH
image icon Two Super Etendards lining up at catapults
image icon Super Etendard being hooked up to catapult
image icon Moments before catapult is fired
image icon Super Etendard making practice carrier landing
image icon Super Etendard making a practice landing
image icon French Navy Super Etendard test firing AM39
image icon AM39 mounted on French Navy Super Etendard
image icon French Navy Super Etendard AM39 just before launch from carrier
image icon First test flight of Super Etendard with AM39 Exocet. Note electronic pod under fuselage required for AM39 missions

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1982-83 [2]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1

Performance

Armament

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References

Notes
  1. ^ a b c d e Grolleau 2003, p.40.
  2. ^ a b Taylor 1982, pp. 65–66.
  3. ^ a b Taylor 1982, p.65.
  4. ^ Michell 1994, p.65.
  5. ^ USMC: Offensive Air Operations of The Falklands War
  6. ^ Huertas 1997, pp. 22–29.
  7. ^ Template:Es icon An interview with CL (R) Ing. Julio Pérez, chief designer of Exocet truck-based launcher
  8. ^ Video
  9. ^ ARAEX ops
  10. ^ Gringo-Gaucho Ops]
  11. ^ Armada Argentina[dead link‍]
  12. ^ MinDef news: Francia cooperará en la modernización de aviones navales de ataque Super Etendard
  13. ^ "L'Argentine pourrait reprendre les Super Etendard français"("Argentina could take over the French Super Étendards"), retrieved 2010-03-02
  14. ^ Jackson 1986, p.66.
  15. ^ Grolleau 2003, p.39.
  16. ^ Grolleau 2003, pp. 39–40.
  17. ^ Grolleau 2003, pp. 40–41.
  18. ^ Goebel, Greg (2007-04-01). "Rafale into service". www.vectorsite.net. Retrieved 2007-04-05. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  19. ^ Jackson 1986, p.69.
  20. ^ Ejection History Website,Chronological Listing of Iraqi Losses & Ejections - retrieved 23rd October, 2009
  21. ^ Template:Fr icon Disparition d'un pilote aero en 1987
  22. ^ a b Template:Fr icon Net Marine
  23. ^ Template:Fr icon Public report of the technical inquiry performed by the Bureau d'enquêtes et d'analyses de la Défense, number M-2004-009-IA, December 2004
  24. ^ Template:Fr icon Accident aérien survenu à un Super Etendard Modernisé de la Marine Nationale, le 7 décembre 2005, dans le golfe d'Ajaccio
  25. ^ Template:Fr icon Public report of the technical inquiry performed by the Bureau d'enquêtes et d'analyses de la Défense, number M-2005-019-A, June 22, 2006
  26. ^ Template:Fr icon Public report of the technical inquiry performed by the Bureau d'enquêtes et d'analyses de la Défense, number M-2006-007-I, June 28, 2006.
  27. ^ Template:Fr icon Public report of the technical inquiry performed by the Bureau d'enquêtes et d'analyses de la Défense, number M-2006-016, April 25, 2007.
  28. ^ Template:Fr icon Un Super Etendard perdu en mer
  29. ^ Template:Fr icon "Accident aérien de 2 Super-Étendard de la Marine nationale", defense.gouv.fr, Ministère de la Défense français, 2008-10-01, retrieved 2008-10-01
  30. ^ Template:Fr icon Jean-Dominique Merchet (2008-10-02), "Crash d'un Super-Étendard: plus d'espoir de retrouver le pilote vivant", Libération, ISSN 0335-1793, retrieved 2008-10-02
  31. ^ Template:Fr icon "La Marine localise des débris de Super-Étendard au nord de l'île de Batz", Ouest-France, 2008-10-15, OCLC 405970499, retrieved 2008-10-16
  32. ^ Template:Fr icon "Recherche du pilote et des Super Étendards disparus en mer", defense.gouv.fr, Ministère de la Défense français, 2008-10-17, retrieved 2008-10-18
  33. ^ Jackson 1986, p.62.
  34. ^ Flight International 25-31 May 2004, p.53.
  35. ^ Donald and Lake 1996, p.142.
Bibliography
  • Donald, David and Jon Lake. Encyclopedia of World Military Aircraft. London, Aerospace Publishing, Single Volume Edition, 1996. ISBN 1 874023 95 6.
  • Grolleau, Henri-Paul. "The Aéronavale Spearhead". Air International, January 2008, Vol 64 No 1. Stamford, UK:Key Publishing. ISSN 0306-5634. pp. 38–43.
  • Huertas, Salvador Mafé. "Super Etendard in the Falklands: 2a Escuadrilla Aeronaval de Caza y Ataque". Wings of Fame. Volume 8, 1997. London:Aerospace Publishing. ISBN 1 86184 008 X.
  • Jackson, Paul. "France's Superior Standard". Air International, February 1986, Vol 30 No 2. Bromley, UK:Fine Scroll. ISSN 0306-5634. pp. 49–69.
  • Michell, Simon. Jane's Civil and Military Aircraft Upgrades 1994-95. Coulsdon, UK:Jane's Information Group, 1994. ISBN 0 7106 1208 7.
  • Ripley, Tim. "Directory:Military Aircraft". Flight International, 25-31 May 2004. Sutton, UK:Reed Business Press. pp. 38–73.
  • Taylor, John W.R. (ed). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1982-83. London:Jane's Yearbooks, 1982. ISBN 0 7106-0748-2.
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