Dassault Super-Étendard

SEM avec AS30 L

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SEM avec AM-39

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SEM avec nacelle ATLIS

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Iraq

A total of five Super Étendards were loaned to Iraq in 1983 while the country was waiting for deliveries of Agave-equipped Dassault Mirage F1s capable of launching Exocet missiles that had been ordered; the first of these aircraft arrived in Iraq on 8 October 1983.

The provision of Super Étendards to Iraq was politically controversial, the United States and Iraq's neighbour Iran were vocal in their opposition while Saudi Arabia supported the loan; the aircraft were seen as an influential factor in the 1980-1988 Iraq-Iran War as they could launch Exocet strikes on Iranian merchant shipping traversing the Persian Gulf.

The Super Étendards began maritime operations over the Gulf in March 1984; a total of 34 attacks were carried out on Iranian shipping through the rest of 1984.

Iraq would typically deploy the Super Étendards in pairs, escorted by Mirage F1 fighters from bases in Southern Iraq; once inside the mission zone, the Super Étendards would search for targets using their onboard radar and engage suspected tankers at long range without visual identification.

While tankers would typically be struck by a launched Exocet, they were often only lightly damaged by a successful hit.

In April 1984, an Iraqi Super Etendard claimed to have been shot down by an Iranian F-4 Phantom II over Khark Island.

Separately, on 26 July and 7 August 1984, claims of Super Entendard losses to Iranian Grumman F-14 Tomcats were reported.

Iran would cumulatively claim a total of three Super Étendards to have been shot down by Iranian interceptors, however France would state that four out of the five leased aircraft were returned to France in 1985.

Operators

Argentina

Argentine Naval Aviation received 14 aircraft, eleven are still in service.

France

Aviation Navale received 71 aircraft, all are to be replaced by the Rafale M by 2015.

Iraq

Iraqi Air Force was lent five French aircraft between 1983 and 1985; four returned to France in 1985.