Super Etendard

This page is about the French jet fighter Super Etendard. For the other version, see Etendard IVM.

Super Etendard

Etendard IVM

Jaguar A

Super Etendard

Etendard IVM

Jaguar A

France

VII Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
10.3	10.3	10.3

Class:

Strike aircraft

Naval aircraft

Research:260 000

Purchase:710 000

Show in game

Description

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 (SEM), 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.

General info

Flight performance

Arrestor gear

Accelerates braking by grabbing the brake cable on the deck of the aircraft carrier

Air brakes

Allows you to dramatically reduce the flight speed by releasing special flaps

Drogue parachute

Reduces braking distance when landing on any runway

Max speed

at 12 000 m1 380 km/h

Turn time32 s

Max altitude13 000 m

EngineSNECMA Atar 8K-50

TypeJet

Cooling systemAir

Take-off weight21 t

The Super Étendard is quite a manoeuvrable plane. It features good manoeuvring energy retention even at high speeds, it does not compress easily, and due to its new engine compared to the original Étendard IVM, it has a much higher thrust-to-weight ratio, allowing it to climb extremely well, and making it able to reach supersonic speeds, even though it does not have an afterburner. Overall a fun plane to fly, although it may feel quite unstable during certain manoeuvres.

Characteristics	Max speed (km/h at 12,000 m)		Max altitude (metres)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (metres/second)		Take-off run (metres)
	AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
Stock	1,358	1,344	13000	33.0	34.0	80.4	72.6	800
Upgraded	1,406	1,380		31.3	32.0	115.8	97.0

Details

Features
Combat flaps	Take-off flaps	Landing flaps	Air brakes	Arrestor gear	Drogue chute
✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓

Limits
Wings (km/h)	Gear (km/h)	Flaps (km/h)			Max Static G
		Combat	Take-off	Landing	+	-
1,263	426	1,263	389	389	~11	~4

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< 920	< 750	< 600	-

Engine performance

Engine			Aircraft mass
Engine name		Number	Basic mass		Wing loading (full fuel)
SNECMA Atar 8K-50		1	6,711 kg		329 kg/m2
Engine characteristics			Mass with fuel (no weapons load)				Max Gross Weight
Weight (each)	Type		10m fuel	20m fuel	30m fuel	33m fuel
1,150 kg	Axial-flow turbojet		7,496 kg	8,271 kg	9,050 kg	9,329 kg	11,769 kg
Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB/SB)			Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (100%)
Condition	100%	WEP	10m fuel	20m fuel	30m fuel	33m fuel	MGW
Stationary	4,950 kgf	-	0.66	0.60	0.55	0.53	0.42
Optimal	5,841 kgf (1,200 km/h)	-	0.78	0.71	0.65	0.63	0.49

Survivability and armour

Flares/Chaff

Aircraft countermeasures to distract IR and radar-guided missiles and also AA radar

Crew1 person

Speed of destruction

Structural0 km/h

Gear426 km/h

The Super Étendard relies heavily on the pilots positioning and defensive flying capability to survive. Its high thrust to weight ratio, good manoeuvring energy retention and the fact that it doesn't compress easily makes it quite an easy plane to fly defensively, as it can take advantage of enemies weaknesses. However due to its flight model, it does not like to lose energy or rather speed, which means that making an enemy overshoot is quite harder to achieve than with a delta wing.

It also features a total of 180 countermeasures. It is easy to flare off incoming missiles due to its lack of an afterburner, and high amount of countermeasures.

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB3 239 → 4 401

RB9 403 → 12 778

SB10 465 → 14 221

Total cost of modifications226 600

353 000

Talisman cost2 800

Crew training200 000

Experts710 000

Aces2 800

Research Aces1 080 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

100 / 310 / 600 %

232 / 232 / 232 %

Modifications

Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
Fuselage repair Research: 7 600 Cost: 12 000 290 Compressor Research: 7 600 Cost: 12 000 290 Airframe Research: 17 000 Cost: 27 000 640 New boosters Research: 17 000 Cost: 27 000 640 Wings repair Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 410 Engine Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 410 Cover Research: 15 000 Cost: 23 000 560 G-suit Research: 15 000 Cost: 23 000 560		aden_belt_pack Research: 7 600 Cost: 12 000 290 Matra SNEB Research: 7 600 Cost: 12 000 290 Flares/Chaff Research: 7 600 Cost: 12 000 290 ATLIS II Research: 7 600 Cost: 12 000 290 Type 25C Research: 17 000 Cost: 27 000 640 aden_new_gun Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 410 LR 100-4 Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 410 GBU-12 Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 410 Matra R550 Magic 1 Research: 15 000 Cost: 23 000 560 Type 21B Research: 15 000 Cost: 23 000 560 AS30L Research: 15 000 Cost: 23 000 560

Armaments

Ballistic Computer
CCIP (Guns)	CCIP (Rockets)	CCIP (Bombs)	CCRP (Bombs)

Offensive armament

The Super Etendard is armed with:

• 2 x 30 mm DEFA 553 cannons, belly-mounted (125 rpg = 250 total)

Suspended armament

The Super Etendard can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
250 kg SAMP Type 25 200 bombs	1	1		2		1	1
250 kg SAMP Type 25 bombs	1	1		2		1	1
250 lb LDGP Mk 81 bombs	1	1		2		1	1
250 lb Mk 81 Snakeye bombs	1	1		2		1	1
277 kg GBU-12 Paveway II bombs		1, 2				1, 2
400 kg SAMP Type 21 200 bombs	1	1		2		1	1
400 kg SAMP Type 21 bombs	1	1		2		1	1
500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs	1	1		2		1	1
500 lb Mk 82 Snakeye bombs	1	1		2		1	1
SNEB type 23 rockets	18	18				18	18
TBA ECC rockets	4	4				4	4
TBA Multi-Dart 100 AB rockets	4	4				4	4
Matra R550 Magic 1 missiles	1						1
Countermeasures			90		90
ATLIS II targeting pod				1

Default weapon presets

Without load 180 x countermeasures 2 x Matra R550 Magic 1 missiles 72 x SNEB type 23 rockets 16 x TBA Multi-Dart 100 AB rockets 16 x TBA ECC rockets 6 x 250 lb LDGP Mk 81 bombs (1,500 lb total) 6 x 250 lb Mk 81 Snakeye bombs (1,500 lb total) 6 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs (3,000 lb total) 6 x 500 lb Mk 82 Snakeye bombs (3,000 lb total) 6 x 250 kg SAMP Type 25 bombs (1,500 kg total) 6 x 250 kg SAMP Type 25 200 bombs (1,500 kg total) 6 x 400 kg SAMP Type 21 bombs (2,400 kg total) 6 x 400 kg SAMP Type 21 200 bombs (2,400 kg total) 1 x ATLIS II targeting pod + 4 x 277 kg GBU-12 Paveway II bombs (1,108 kg total)

The Super Étendard features really good armament for engaging air targets as well as ground targets. It can take 180 countermeasures, 2 x R550 Magic 1 missiles, as well as 4 x guided bombs at the same time, making it extremely competitive in ground battles, as well as in air battles when used as a multirole aircraft.

Usage in battles

The Super Étendard feels like a true modern multirole fighter, but at a lower BR.

In ARB matches, it should be used with mixed or reinforced flares, and 2 x R550 Magic 1 missiles, along with 10 minutes of fuel (20 min if you are not aggressive, or if you play on a big map). This makes you the most efficient at keeping your own plane alive, while being able to get some quite easy kills. The Super Étendard is a reliable Boom and Zoom plane, but can hold its own quite well in Energy Fighting due to its high thrust-to-weight ratio.

In GRB matches, you should keep your distance, and listen well to your RWR. Once you find a target that is not moving fast or is stationary, you should get very high, drop a bomb while lasing your chosen target, and after dropping, you should keep the altitude.

You should always destroy all other air superiority fighters before engaging in close air support.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Lots of flares
• Easy to flare missiles due to lack of afterburner
• Forgivable airframe. It can be thrown into a lot of situations and still come out on top even against more manoeuvrable targets
• Can use countermeasures, AAMs, and AGMs at the same time.
• Modern Avionics. Full Digital RWR, and gets access to modern HUD in the cockpit, helping players hit their target WAY easier in first person.

Cons:

• Lack of afterburner, making it a trans-sonic plane at most.
• Slightly unstable airframe due to flight model, making it wobbly in certain manoeuvres.

History

The Super Étendard's history began in the late 1960s when France sought a replacement for its aging Étendard IV aircraft. Dassault Aviation designed the Super Étendard, introduced in the 1970s, as a carrier-based strike fighter. It featured a compact, agile airframe, advanced avionics, and a SNECMA Atar 8K-50 turbojet engine.

In 1982, during the Falklands War, the Super Étendard gained international recognition when it successfully hit the British destroyer HMS Sheffield with an Exocet missile, showcasing its maritime strike capabilities.

Exported to nations like Iraq and Argentina, it participated in various conflicts, serving roles from anti-ship strikes to ground attacks. The aircraft underwent upgrades over time but was eventually retired by France in 2016, making way for the Rafale M.

Media

Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.

See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

• reference to the series of the aircraft;
• links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

• topic on the official game forum;
• other literature.

Dassault Aviation
WW2*
Fighters	M.B.152C1 · M.B.157
Bombers	M.B.162 · M.B.174A-3 · M.B.175T
Jet Aircraft
M.D 450	M.D.450B Barougan · M.D.450B Ouragan
Mystère	M.D.452 IIA · M.D.452 IIC · Mystere IVA
Super Mystère	Super Mystere B2
Étendard	Etendard IVM
Super Étendard	Super Etendard
Alpha Jet	Alpha Jet E**
Mirage
Mirage III	Mirage IIIC · Mirage IIIE · Milan
Mirage V	Mirage 5F
Mirage F1	Mirage F1C · Mirage F1C-200 · Mirage F1CT
Mirage 2000	Mirage 2000-5F · Mirage 2000C-S4 · Mirage 2000C-S5 · Mirage 2000D-R1 · Mirage 2000D-RMV
Mirage 4000	Mirage 4000
Export
M.D 450	M.D.450B Ouragan
Mystere	Mystere IVA
Super Mystère	Sambad · Sa'ar***
Mirage	Shahak · ▄Mirage 5BA · ␗Mirage 2000-5Ei
	*The company was named "Société des Avions Marcel Bloch" before being renamed in 1947
	**Jointly manufactured with Dornier Flugzeugwerke
	***Israeli Super Mystère refitted with new avionics and an American engine
See also	SABCA