Dassault Étendard IV

Étendard IV
Role	Strike fighter
National origin	France
Manufacturer	Dassault Aviation
First flight	1958
Introduction	1962
Retired	1991
Status	Some IVPs still in service
Primary user	French Navy
Number built	90
Variants	Dassault-Breguet Super Étendard

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 metres (36,000 ft) 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 The last of the Étendard IVMs were withdrawn in 1991, although a handful of IVPs remained operational as of 2004.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 34.34 kN (7,720 lbf) SNECMA ATAR 101E3, first flown on 24 July 1956.

Étendard IVB

One prototype fitted with an 49.82 kN (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

France

• French Navy Aviation Navale (flottille 17F)

Specifications (Dassault Étendard IVM)

Etendard IVM on display at the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 14.40 m (47 ft 3 in)
• Wingspan: 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
• Height: 3.79 m (12 ft 6 in)
• Wing area: 29 m² (312 ft²)
• Empty weight: 5,900 kg (13,000 lb)
• Loaded weight: 8,170 kg (18,010 lb)
• Max. takeoff weight: 10,200 kg (22,500 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × SNECMA Atar 8B turbojet, 43.16 kN (9,703 lbf)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 1,099 km/h (593 knots, 683 mph)
• Range: 3,300 km (1,800 NM, 2,100 mi)
• Service ceiling: 15,500 m (50,900 ft)
• Rate of climb: 100 m/s (19,700 ft/min)
• Wing loading: 282 kg/m² (57 lb/ft²)
• Thrust/weight: 0.54

Armament

• Guns: 2× 30 mm (1.18 in) DEFA 552 cannons with 150 rounds per gun
• Rockets: 2× Matra rocket pods with 18× SNEB 68 mm rockets each
• Bombs: 1,360 kg (3,000 lb) of payload on four external hardpoints, including a variety of bombs or Drop tanks

See also

• Dassault Étendard II
• Dassault Étendard VI
• Dassault Super Étendard
• A-4 Skyhawk
• A-7 Corsair II
• Blackburn Buccaneer
• List of fighter aircraft
• List of military aircraft of France
• Dassault Étendard
• Dassault Mystère

Squadrons

• Flottille 17F

References

Notes

Bibliography

• Kay, Anthony L. (2007). Turbojet: History and Development 1930–1960: Volume 2: USSR, USA, Japan, France, Canada, Sweden, Switzerland, Italy, Czechoslovakia and Hungary. Marlborough, Wiltshire: Crowood Press. ISBN 978-1-86126-939-3.