Dassault Étendard IV

The Dassault Étendard IV is a supersonic carrier-borne "strike" fighter aircraft designed for service with the French Navy. It was in service from 1962 to 1991.

Design and development
The Étendard's history begins with two different design requirements in the early 1950s for light fighters, one for the French Air Force and the other for NATO air forces. Dassault used the same basic design for both these specifications, the Étendard II and Étendard VI respectively, neither of which saw orders. Simultaneously, the company developed a larger and more powerful variant (originally designated Mystère XXIV) as a private venture.

Interest from the Navy led to Dassault building a prototype navalized version, first demonstrated to the service in 1958 and which resulted in an order for 69 Étendard IVM fighters and 21 Étendard IVP reconnaissance versions. From 1962, these were being deployed aboard the new French Clemenceau class aircraft carriers, starting with the Clemenceau and Foch.

The Étendard IVs performance was never spectacular but it was supersonic and could reach Mach 1.3 at 11,000 m and Mach 0.97 at low altitude. By the 1970s it was clear that a replacement would be required soon.

The Jaguar M, a navalized SEPECAT Jaguar was intended to be the replacement, but as political problems with the joint Anglo-French effort delayed development, Dassault offered the improved Super Étendard. The last of the Étendard IVMs were withdrawn in 1991, although a handful of IVPs remained operational as of 2004.

Variants

 * Étendard IV: The prototype powered by a 7,720 lbf SNECMA ATAR 101E3, first flown on 24 July 1956.
 * Étendard IVB: One prototype fitted with an 11,200 lbf thrust Rolls-Royce Avon engine and blown flaps.
 * Étendard IVM: Single-seat Maritime strike fighter aircraft for the French Navy.
 * Étendard IVP: Single-seat Photo reconnaissance aircraft for the French Navy.

Operators

 * French Navy Aviation Navale (flottille 17F)
 * French Navy Aviation Navale (flottille 17F)