After the navalized version of the SEPECAT Jaguar was cancelled, France was left with a dire need for an aircraft to replace their aging fleet of Etendard IVMs for carrier operations. There were several import proposals at first, including A-4 and A-7 aircraft from the USA, but ultimately, it was decided instead to use an indigenous modernization of the Etendard, dubbed the Super Etendard. The primary upgrades were to the avionics, which would come from modern Dassault aircraft and were already proven on platforms like the late Mirage IIIs and the early Mirage 2000s. The Super Etendard's primary upgrades were a new engine, and new targeting systems allowing it to use new anti-ship and laser-guided ordnance.

The Super Etendard, introduced in Update "Sons of Attila", is a competitive aircraft with good air-to-air and air-to-ground capability for its battle rating. The dogfighting performance is no slouch, due to the powerful engine which allows the aircraft to fly at supersonic speeds without an afterburner at certain altitudes, and it is further complemented by the abundant countermeasures and R.550 Magic 1 air-to-air missiles which are also very good for this battle rating. In mixed battles, the Super Etendard really begins to shine: The aircraft not only carries up to four GBU-12 Paveway laser guided bombs and the ATLIS II targeting pod, allowing the Super Etendard to rain hell on tanks in ground battles, but it also gets an air-to-surface radar, allowing it to detect ground vehicles from far away in the right circumstances. The Super Etendard overall is a great stepping stone towards the later French fighter-bombers such as the Jaguar A and the Mirage 2000D.