- Yes
- No
Hello everyone and welcome to this new suggestion!
Today I’m presenting a version of an aircraft already in the game: the Super Étendard Standard 2.
(The version currently in the game isn’t specified by version number, but seems to be a Standard 3 or 4; this suggestion is for the Standard 2 version of the aircraft)
In the early 1990s, the French Navy already had a fairly large fleet of Super Étendard aircraft in the Standard 1 configuration, but these were essentially slightly improved Étendard IV M aircraft. The Agave radar was not that great, and the cockpit instruments remained unchanged. Wanting a more capable aircraft for its operations, the French Navy decided to modernize its fleet, resulting in the Standard 2 version (from this point on, the Super Étendard would also be called the Super Étendard Modernized). This new version had significant improvements over the previous version. Although the aircraft looked the same, many of the systems were either replaced or upgraded. The first and most important change was the replacement of the Agave radar with the Anemone radar. This new generation, multi-mode radar allowed for the search and tracking of both maritime and air targets at much greater distances than the Agave, thus allowing full use of the Exocet missile. The cockpit was also extensively redesigned; the analog targeting display was replaced with a modern digital HUD, and the onboard computer was replaced with a newer model, having six times the processing power. Finally, the flight controls were modified so that the pilot could access the weapons and radar controls via the control stick and throttle (HOTAS).
This version of the aircraft entered service with the French Navy in 1993 and represented a major improvement for the Naval Aviation forces. The Étendards, which previously could only detect targets at short ranges, became excellent surveillance aircraft and even began to replace the Breguet Alizé in this role. Furthermore, the new cockpit ergonomics finally make it a truly modern aircraft, a feature appreciated particularly by pilots who transitioned from the Étendard IV M. However, despite its many advantages, the Super Étendard Standard 2 still has some shortcomings. Its countermeasures capabilities are very limited, as it only has the tail-mounted decoy dispenser (LCQ), and it cannot fire guided weapons, a type of armament that is becoming increasingly common in naval aviation worldwide. For this reason, the Navy began considering a Standard 3 upgrade as soon as the Standard 2 entered service, a standard that would allow integration of the air-to-surface guided bombs and missiles already used by the Air Force. This Standard 3 upgrade, however, would not be ready until 1997, leaving the Navy with the Standard 2 for just a few years.
Characteristics
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Length : 14.31 m
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Wingspan : 9.6 m
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Height : 3.86 m
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Mass :
- Min : 6,250 kg
- Max : 12,400 kg
The aircraft is powered by a SNECMA Atar 8k50 with 49kN of thrust, allowing the aircraft to reach a maximum speed of 1180km/h and an altitude of 14850m. Its range is 2700km in ferry mode and 650km with maximum payload.
Equipment
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Radar :
The aircraft is equipped with Thales’ Anemone radar, a maritime surveillance radar that detects and tracks air and naval targets. This radar is used to designate and fire the Exocet missile. -
RWR :
The installed radar warning receiver (RWR) is the BF model from Thomson-CSF. This RWR provides an approximate indication of potential threats (two small antennas are located on the tail of the aircraft). -
Decoys :
The Super Etendard in its Standard 2 configuration is not yet equipped with the Alkan countermeasures pods at station 0. However, it can be equipped with the LCQ infrared decoy launcher (tail-mounted decoy launcher), which replaces the parachute and allows for the deployment of 15 flares. Regarding countermeasures pods, the Super Etendard can carry either the Phimat countermeasures pod (216 chaff dispensers) or the Alkan LCIII pod (104 selectable decoy rounds) on the wingtip of each wing. The Corail jamming system can also be installed, but it is mounted on one of the “0” hardpoints.
Weapons
This initial version of the modernized Super Étendard does not have laser-guided air-to-surface weapons, but it can still carry the same suite of unguided weapons used by French aircraft.
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Guns :
- 2 x DEFA 30-552A F2A 30mm
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Air to Air Missiles :
- 2 x Magic 1
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Unguided Bombs :
- 6 x Mk-81 bomb
- 6 x Mk-82 bomb
- 6 x SAMP Type 21 400kg bomb
- 6 x SAMP Type 21 200 400kg parachuted bomb
- 6 x SAMP Type 25 250kg bomb
- 6 x SAMP Type 25 200 250kg parachuted bomb
- 6 x BAP-100 anti runway bomb
- 6 x BAT-120 tactical bomb
- AN-52 nuclear bomb
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Rockets :
- 4 x LR150 lancher
- 4 x TBA-ECC launcher
- 4 x TBA multi dart launcher
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Guided missiles :
- 2 x AM39 Exocet
- ASMP nuclear missile
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Fuel tanks :
- 3 x 600L
- 2 x 1100L
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Pod :
- A FLIR Rubis pod can be installed on the starboard side of the aircraft at position 0; this pod provides the pilot with an infrared image of their surroundings, serving as a navigation aid during nighttime operations.
In the game, this aircraft would be a very interesting addition, offering a version of the Super Etendard similar to the one we already know, but with less advanced equipment. This would create a less capable aircraft that could fill the gap between the existing version and the Etendard IV M.
