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France Legacy Dassault Aviation
Super Etendard
A carrier-based French Navy strike fighter best known for launching Exocet anti-ship missiles during the 1982 Falklands War from Argentine service. It was retired from the French Navy in 2016 after the Rafale M took over its carrier strike role.
In service since 1978 · 1 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
1,205
km/h
1,820
km range
2,100
kg payload
Pricing: Unit cost not publicly disclosed
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
French export-licensed
CIEEMG inter-ministerial approval; broadly export-oriented.
Channel: DGA / direct commercial
Fielded & proven
Limited · 1 operator
In service since 1978. Status: legacy.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
No public unit price to model from.
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data — export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
- Max speed
Maximum level speed. For aircraft this is at optimal altitude; for ground vehicles, top road speed. Higher means faster response and better kinematic performance.
- 1,205 km/h Bottom 8% of fighters
- Range
Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence.
- 1,820 km Bottom 10% of fighters
- Combat radius
Distance an aircraft can fly, complete its mission and return without refueling. Roughly a third of ferry range.
- 850 km Stronger than 45% of fighters
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
- Main armament
Primary weapon: main gun, cannon or missile type.
- 2x 30 mm DEFA 552 cannons
- Hardpoints
External stations for weapons and pods. More means bigger and more flexible loadouts.
- 6 Bottom 5% of fighters
- Weapons payload
Maximum ordnance weight the platform can carry. Higher means more strike capacity per sortie.
- 2,100 kg Bottom 1% of fighters
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
- Empty weight
Weight without fuel, ammunition or crew.
- 6,500 kg
- Combat weight
Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor.
- 12,000 kg
- Crew
Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity.
- 1
Propulsion
Engine, power and fuel.
- Engine
Powerplant model and type.
- 1x SNECMA Atar 8K-50 turbojet
- Engines
Number of engines. Twin-engine gives redundancy at higher cost.
- 1
- Propulsion type
Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet…
- Turbojet
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
- Operator countries
Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem.
- 1 Stronger than 23% of fighters
Specifications compiled from public Dassault Aviation and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations — treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
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Lockheed Martin F-22A Raptor Frequently asked questions
What is the top speed of the Dassault Aviation Super Etendard? +
The Dassault Aviation Super Etendard has a maximum speed of 1,205 km/h.
What is the range of the Dassault Aviation Super Etendard? +
The Dassault Aviation Super Etendard has a maximum range of 1,820 km.
What is the weapons payload of the Dassault Aviation Super Etendard? +
The Dassault Aviation Super Etendard can carry up to 2,100 kg of weapons payload.
How much does the Dassault Aviation Super Etendard weigh? +
The Dassault Aviation Super Etendard has a combat weight of 12,000 kg.
How many crew does the Dassault Aviation Super Etendard require? +
The Dassault Aviation Super Etendard requires a crew of 1.
What is the main armament of the Dassault Aviation Super Etendard? +
The Dassault Aviation Super Etendard's primary weapon is the 2x 30 mm DEFA 552 cannons.
What engine does the Dassault Aviation Super Etendard use? +
The Dassault Aviation Super Etendard is powered by the 1x SNECMA Atar 8K-50 turbojet.
What is the Dassault Aviation Super Etendard used for? +
The Dassault Aviation Super Etendard is a fighter aircraft typically used for close air support, deep strike.
How many countries operate the Dassault Aviation Super Etendard? +
The Dassault Aviation Super Etendard is operated by 1 countries.
How much does the Dassault Aviation Super Etendard cost? +
Dassault Aviation Super Etendard: Unit cost not publicly disclosed. Defense program costs are rarely fully public and vary by contract and configuration.
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