Poster dassault super etendard modernized

The first of three prototypes reconstructed from Etendard airframes made its initial flight on October 29, 1974.

The first aircraft in a series of 71 units flew on November 24, 1977. The Navy received the new model on June 28, 1978. In September, the Super Etendard entered service with 11 F then 17 F. The two flotillas s 'initiated the launching of the AM 39 Exocet anti-ship missile and the dropping of the tactical atomic bomb, no real nuclear fire having however been operated.

The Super Etendard was also ordered by the Armada Argentina and the 14 copies would shine during the Falklands War by sinking the missile escort HMS Sheffield on May 4, 1982, then the Atlantic Conveyor on May 25. Five Super Etendards were also "loaned" to Iraq.

From 1990 the Super Etendard had to undergo a first upgrade of its equipment. For the fifth and last catch-up operation 35 were renamed SEM 5. They received a nacelle designated Laser Damocles, a GPS with automatic adjustment, a FLIR the whole allowing to direct bombs in a very precise way on mobile targets. Gradually the SEM 5 will give way to the Rafale F2.