Etendard IV PM

Mathll · October 19, 2025, 2:09am

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First of all, a big thank you to @Flamme3000 for the help provided during the creation of this suggestion.

Hello everyone and welcome to this new suggestion!

Today I’m presenting a variant of an aircraft already in the game: the Etendard IV PM.

NOTE: The Etendard IV PM can refer to two different aircraft: either the modernized version of the Etendard IV P, or Etendard IV M aircraft converted to the P standard. Here we are only focusing on the first one.

In the early 1990s, the French Navy faced a real problem: its Etendard IV P reconnaissance and photographic aircraft, while still effective in their missions, lacked the necessary defense systems to be deployed in modern conflicts. Indeed, they only had old radar warning receivers (BW and BZ) that didn’t provide full coverage, lacked effective countermeasures (the only tactic was to dive to the ground to evade enemy radars), and couldn’t defend themselves against enemy aircraft. To remedy this problem, a modernized version of the aircraft was proposed: the PM version. This PM version addressed each problematic area and provided solutions to meet the Navy’s needs. For the lack of radar warning capabilities, a DRAX-16 RWR was installed in the tail of the Etendard. For the lack of countermeasures, Alkan designed the LCIII pod, which could be mounted on the external wing pylons and carried flares and chaff (in addition, the Phimat chaff pod and the Barracuda jamming pod could also be installed). Finally, for the lack of defensive armament, the Magic 2 missile could be mounted under the wings. All these modifications brought the Etendard IV up to date, making it almost as effective as the Super Etendard (except for the radar). The Étendard IV PM can be identified by their serial number, which is higher than 121.

In the French Air Force, the Étendard IV P aircraft were upgraded to the PM version between 1989 and 1994, and remained in service until 2000 before being completely replaced by the Super Étendard (standards 4 and 5) and then by the Rafale Marine. (Only squadron 16F operated the Étendard IV PM; the other squadrons that had used the Étendard IV—11F, 15F, 17F, and 51S—switched to the Super Étendard). The Étendard IV PM saw combat several times, notably in Yugoslavia and Kosovo, operating from the aircraft carriers Foch and Clemenceau. During these conflicts, the presence of countermeasures was highly valued due to the proliferation of portable surface-to-air missile systems (one Étendard IV P was hit by an SA-7 missile but managed to return to the Foch, landing without flaps and with its tail fin severely damaged). During these operations, the number of Étendard IV PM aircraft gradually decreased, until only four remained on board the aircraft carriers, as the Air Force command preferred to deploy more modern aircraft such as the Super Étendard and the F-8P.

Characteristics

Length : 14.7 m
Wingspan : 9.6 m
Height : 3.8 m
Mass :
- Min : 5,900 kg
- Max : 10,090 kg

The aircraft is powered by the same engine as the M version, the SNECMA Atar 8C2, which allows the Etendard IV P to reach a maximum speed of 1204 km/h and an altitude of 45,000 feet. Its maximum range is over 1600 km without any loadout.

Equipment

Detectors :

DRAX-16

The DRAX is a radar warning receiver mounted on the tail of the aircraft (it can be identified by the small antenna at the front), which was already present on the Jaguar. This system allows pilots to detect various threats around the aircraft.

Decoys :

LCQ

The LCQ (tail launch unit) is positioned where the aircraft’s parachute would normally be and contains 3 rows of 5 countermeasures (flares).

Alkan LCIII

The Alkan LCIII decoy dispenser is a pod that can be installed under the wings of the Etendard IV PM aircraft, and it contains 104 40mm cartridges (a mix of IR and EM decoys is possible).

Barracuda

The Barracuda is a jamming device that can be installed under one of the wings to disrupt enemy radar detection and tracking.

Other :
The aircraft is equipped as standard with the necessary equipment to carry out its photography and reconnaissance missions. Therefore, it has three cameras mounted in the nose (one forward-facing and two side-facing), and an additional camera pod can be installed under the fuselage. Finally, the aircraft also serves as an in-flight refueling tanker, and thus carries a “Buddy-Buddy” refueling pod manufactured by Douglas.

Operational unit

Both the Étendard IV P and IV PM were operated by the French Navy’s sole photographic reconnaissance unit, Squadron 16F. Created in 1955, 16F initially carried out fighter missions with the Aquilon. With the arrival of the Étendard IV P, however, its role shifted to reconnaissance — a mission it would continue to perform until the year 2000, when the squadron was disbanded following the elimination of the dedicated naval reconnaissance role.

Weapons

The Étendard IV PM, designed exclusively for photographic reconnaissance and in-flight refueling, did not prioritize carrying weapons. With the gun pod removed to make space for the power supply system of the forward-facing cameras, the aircraft was left completely without any self-defense capabilities. To address this weakness, the integration of a defensive missile system was considered, leading to the adoption of the Matra Magic 1 missiles, which were mounted under the wings.

It is worth noting that the aircraft is equipped with two additional fuel tanks located under the wings. These 600-liter tanks significantly increase the aircraft’s range and also allow it to carry more fuel during in-flight refueling missions.

Cockpit

The cockpit of the Étendard IV PM is quite distinctive, although it closely resembles that of the Étendard IV M. The flight instruments and controls are virtually identical, with the addition of systems dedicated to the in-flight refueling pod and the reconnaissance cameras. The most notable difference, however, is the absence of a head-up display/visor, which would have provided the pilot with a wider field of vision.

Notable event

In 1994, Commander Clary, piloting the Étendard IV PM 115, was hit by a surface-to-air missile (likely an SA-7) near the jet engine nozzle after a mission over Sarajevo. Although damaged, the aircraft remained controllable. The pilot managed to fly it back to the aircraft carrier and land it safely, creating some unforgettable images.

In the game, this aircraft would be a very interesting addition to the French tech tree, offering an aircraft with significant combat capabilities but limited by its payload capacity and the need to make compromises regarding countermeasures, making it unique in its gameplay characteristics. This would, for example, allow to fill the gap between the Etendard IV M and the Super Etendard.

Pictures

Matra Magic 1 missiles

Decoys launcher

Other

Video

Great Planes : Etendard 4P Solo Display Koksijde Fairford 1996

Sources

PlayedStatue626-live · October 19, 2025, 9:55am

+1 looks pretty unique

foxtrot19673 · October 19, 2025, 5:08pm

so we now suggesting planes with no weapons?
-1