During a stopover at the Comandante Espora Naval Air Base, prior to embarking on a flight aboard an Argentine Air Force C-130H Hercules towards the 200-mile mark of the Argentine Sea following an incident involving a Chinese fishing vessel, the Naval Aviation Command of the Argentine Navy displayed a Super Étendard alongside a Super Étendard Modernisé belonging to the 2nd Naval Fighter and Attack Squadron.
The SUE, with registration 3-A-202, a veteran aircraft from the Malvinas War, has in its history been involved in attacks on the HMS “Sheffield” on May 4, 1982, and the HMS “Invincible” on May 30, 1982. For years, and since the loss of SUE 3-A-203 in 1996, the 3-A-202 has been preserved due to its historical value.
On the other hand, the SEM with registration 44 is one of the units of this version that is undergoing tests more frequently. Along with SEM 31, these are the aircraft that would initially return to service once the issue regarding the ejection seat cartridges is resolved. It is worth noting that according to sources consulted by Zona Militar, both SEMs undergo periodic inspections and maintenance work to keep the aircraft in conditions for when they become operational again.
Likewise, another aircraft with the possibility of returning to service is the SUE 3-A-209, which, like the mentioned SEMs, is awaiting a solution to restore the operability of the ejection seat system. As part of the efforts to address this issue, the proposal made by TASK Aerospace for ESCAPAC seats, the Scientific and Technical Research Institute for Defense – CITEDEF conducted tests on a test bench designed for the evaluation of ejection cartridges. As reported by the organization in 2023, “from the new test bench, and not being aware of the existence of another similar one on the continent outside the United States, studies were carried out to determine the performance of new systems upon receipt, of systems close to expiration to determine the feasibility of extending their remaining service life, or fundamentally, to carry out R&D studies and developments for the local manufacture of all pyrotechnic/propulsive components.”
The Argentine Navy’s quest to restore the operability of the SUE and carry out their modernization (which concluded with the acquisition of five SEMs with a significant spare parts package) dates back to the 2010s when the SEMs were still in service with the French Navy, operating aboard the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle.
In January 2018, the final commitment for their acquisition was signed, with the purchase being finalized in March 2018 for 12.5 million euros. Finally, the units arrived in Argentina in 2019, beginning a state of dormancy that continues to this day. While Argentina would be the only user of these aircraft in the world, the availability of flight hours for many SUEs, combined with the updates received by the French SEMs, still represent naval aircraft units with unique capabilities in the region.
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