Plastic model aircraft SUPER ETENDARD 1:48

KH80138 - Plastic model aircraft SUPER ETENDARD 1/48

The Dassault Super-Étendard is a French attack and fighter aircraft, built by Dassault for use on aircraft carriers. The successor to the Étendard IV, 85 were produced and put into service by the French Navy and Argentina.

This Super-Etendard is in fact an Étendard IV with a new ATAR 8K50 engine (an ATAR 9K50 without afterburner), completely modified avionics including, in particular, a new Agave radar requiring modification of the nose, and a new wing with improved hypersuspension devices.

Their withdrawal from service was announced in June 2014, with effect from summer 2016. The last catapulting of a 17F Super-Etendard, piloted by its flotilla commander, took place on March 16, 2016. The aircraft has not been embarked on the Charles de Gaulle since that date. After taking part in a final airshow at Biscarosse on May 22, they were officially retired from service following a ceremony held on July 12, 2016 at the Landivisiau naval aviation base.

The SUEs are still in service with the Argentine navy, which seemed interested in acquiring more. The gradual replacement until 2015 of the French naval aviation SUEs by the Rafale M could have enabled Argentina to take over the remaining 54 aircraft, but at the end of 2015, this was no longer an option.

On May 15, 2018, Argentine President Mauricio Macri gave the go-ahead for the purchase of five Super-Etendards for the Argentine Navy at a cost of almost 12 million euros. After lengthy delays due to Argentina's late payments, the five ex-SEMs will be delivered in April 2019. However, they never made any operational flights due to the lack of ejectors caused by a British embargo. On May 17, 2023, the Argentine Defense Minister officially decided not to attempt to return them to service.

In June 2024, Argentine President Javier Milei is negotiating to deliver the five Super-Etendards to Ukraine.