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Hello everyone, and welcome to a new suggestion!
Today I’m presenting the original version of an aircraft that is already in the game: the Super Étendard Standard 1.
In the late 1970s, wanting to modernize its fleet of ground attack aircraft, the French Navy announced its intention to replace its Étendard IV M aircraft. Dassault then decided not to design a completely new aircraft, but rather to significantly improve the existing one, thus creating the Super Étendard. This aircraft was fitted with a new engine, the SNECMA Atar 8K50, which gave it greater thrust. Its wing design was redesigned, and the nose was widened to accommodate the Agave air-to-surface radar. Thanks to these improvements, and particularly the radar, the Super Étendard’s offensive capabilities were enhanced to allow it to counter modern threats. Air-to-air Magic 1 missiles for self-defense and air-to-surface Exocet missiles for anti-ship warfare were added. These new systems propelled the Super Étendard into the ranks of modern, highly capable aircraft, a status confirmed during the Falklands War, where the Super Étendards proved their worth, sinking the HMS Sheffield.
The Super Étendard Standard 1 was the first truly effective anti-ship aircraft to be deployed on aircraft carriers, replacing the Étendard IV M and the Breguet Alizé, which had previously carried out these missions. This aircraft marked a turning point in the French Navy, transitioning from older generation aircraft using only short-range, unguided munitions to a new generation of aircraft with capabilities that made them effective in modern conflicts. However, this Standard 1 version still had numerous shortcomings that made it ineffective for certain missions. For this reason, work began very soon after its release on the development of a new, more advanced version: the Super Étendard Modernized, or Super Étendard Standard 2. The Super Étendard Standard 1 was therefore retired from service in 1993, upon the introduction of the Standard 2, after 17 years of service—making it the Super Étendard with the longest operational lifespan.
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 radar system installed is the Agave radar from Thomson-CSF. This multi-mode radar can detect an aircraft at a range of 15 nautical miles and a warship at 60 nautical miles. This radar is optimized for use with 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 :
No countermeasures system was initially planned for the Super Etendard, however the Corail jamming system was later added to improve its survivability.
It should be noted that this version of the Super Étendard did not yet have the modern cockpit that we know today. In fact, its cockpit was almost identical to that of the Étendard IV M, except for the radar display (the colimator and flight controls were the same).
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 very first version of the Super Etendard would be a great addition, as it would offer a truly unique aircraft, different from the others due to its older radar system and its entirely different cockpit design. This aircraft would fit perfectly following the Etendard IV M, for example, to complete the French naval aviation tech tree.
Pictures
Video
French Navy Super Etendard presentation
French Navy Super Etendard firing an AM39 Exocet
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