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Dassault Etendard IV

History of Dassault Etendard IV

After World War II (1939-1945), the French aviation industry moved quickly to re-establish itself as a center of excellence for the development of advanced fighter jets. This period ("Cold War") coincided with the advent of the jet age, leaving French aeronautical engineers a blank canvas on which to design any new fighter jet.

In the early 1950s, NATO members, including France, entered the light combat platform aircraft market, which was heavily influenced by the recent Korean War (1950-1953) air battles, and the development of France's Dassault Aviation began with new transonic fighter jets.

Development

Dassault Etendard II and Etendard VI (Etendard = "Standard") were both prototypes made for this requirement, although in the end neither side had a choice. Nonetheless, the French Navy is looking for a thoroughbred jet for a new generation of aircraft carriers (the Clemenceau class), and has partnered with Dassault to launch an offshoot of these projects - known as "Etendard IV".

The contract period for the service is 90. The type will be available in two forms, 69 dedicated fighter models and 21 dedicated reconnaissance models.

Etendard IV was Dassault's first foray into a ship-based combat platform.

The first flight was recorded on 21 May 1958, and it entered service in 1962. The fleet was deployed on FS Clemenceau and FS Foch, and entered service around the same time that Etendard IV was adopted. The Etendard IV performed well in the air, with deliveries spanning from 1961 to 1965. It was officially decommissioned in 1991, the product was dedicated to the French Navy, but was not exported.

The fleet has accumulated approximately 180,000 flight hours and is responsible for more than 25,000 carrier landings in service with the French Navy.

The more advanced, more powerful, naval strike-oriented "Super Ensign" became a direct offshoot of the Ensign IV series and succeeded the series when it launched in 1978. Of these, 85 entered service with the French Navy (and others).

The SEPECAT Jaguar M was once intended to replace Etendard in the Navy's strike fighter, but the effort was derailed by politics.

Ensign Tournament

The

Etendard features common Dassault features such as side-mounted crescent air intakes, low-profile main aircraft with swept wings, large-caliber paired internal cannons, and a downward-sloping nose cone. The cockpit is designed to be placed far away to provide the best nose view - an important feature of carrier-based aircraft. The wings are also hinged folded to improve storage space on space carriers, and there is a snap hook under the tail for deck landings.

Ground operation is achieved with a conventional wheeled retractable landing gear consisting of two main single wheel legs and a front single wheel leg. The tail fins were fitted with mid-level planes that were raised to clear the wind from the main front plane.

Engine and Performance

Internally, there is only one engine behind the pilot's seat, a SNECMA Atar 8B series turbojet with 9,703 pounds of thrust, propelling the aircraft to speeds of 683 mph and a range of up to 2,100 miles. Service is capped at 50,000 feet with a climb rate of 19,700 feet per minute.

In fact, Etendard is not a direct supersonic performer, but it can achieve supersonic flight in a dive. Landing operations are reduced by using tow chutes from the stern area.

Weapons

Standard armament consists of 2 DEFA 552 series 30mm internal cannons mounted in fixed forward mounts (below the air intake), each with a magazine for 150 rounds. As a strike fighter, the platform can also carry missiles and bombs depending on mission requirements. The former arrives in the form of 2 Matra rocket pods, each containing 18 rockets, while the latter carries up to 3,000 pounds of conventional box (or guided) ammunition via four weapon mounts. There is also support for Nord 5103 air-to-air missiles if required.

Bombs can replace fuel tanks to increase the combat range of fighter jets.

Ensign variant

The

Etendard collection consists of two main service brands, but also includes two prototypes. Etendard IV was the code name for the 1956 prototype, powered by a SNECMA Atar 101E3 turbojet. The Etendard IVB is another one-off prototype tested using a British Rolls-Royce Avon turbojet engine and flaps.

The actual combat mounts became the Etendard IVM as a single-seat naval strike fighter, and the Etendard IVP as a single-seat reconnaissance platform with equipment installed.