In the late 1980s, a series of enhancements were implemented for the Super Etendard, resulting in the "Super Etendard Modernise (SEM)". The initial SEM configuration, known as "Standard 2" -- the original Super Etendard being "Standard 1" -- involved modification of the cockpit layout, the new scheme being built around a modern HUD, and fit of the Thomson-CSF (now Thales) Anemone radar in place of the old Agave radar. The Anemone provides about twice the range of the Agave and has an enhanced set of modes, including more air-to-air modes. First flight of a Standard 2 SEM was in October 1990, with initial service delivery in June 1993.
The Standard 2 was quickly followed by the "Standard 3" SEM, which introduced carriage of the ATLIS laser targeting pod on the centerline station. Once again, the cannon had to be removed to accommodate black boxes when ATLIS was carried. ATLIS is a daylight targeting pod with a TV camera featuring 2.5/5/10/20 magnification zoom boresighted to a laser, and the ability to automatically track a target after being locked -- a useful feature when employed with a single-seat aircraft like the Super Etendard.
When carrying an ATLIS pod, a SEM could perform precision targeting for an AS-30L missile -- a laser-guided derivative of the old radio-guided AS-30 -- or laser-guided bombs (LGBs). For some obscure reason the Standard 3 SEM could not designate its own LGBs and could only be used for "buddy lasing" of such weapons, with a SEM targeting LGBs for another strike aircraft.
The "Standard 4" SEM was a big step forward, featuring:
An updated countermeasures suite, most significantly including a state-of-the-art Thales Sherloc RWR with rectangular antennas on the front and back of the tailfin, replacing the "spike" antennas of the old BF RWR.
Since pylon-mounted external defensive countermeasures pods are usually relatively lightweight, a new stores pylon was added to each wing inboard of the existing stores pylons, just forward of the extended main landing gear, solely for countermeasures pods. The latest countermeasures pods can be carried by the Standard 4 SEM, including the Barracuda NG (New Generation) RF jammer and the Alkan LL5081 chaff-flare dispenser. The Alkan LL5081 has a capacity of 90 40 millimeter cartridges or 40 60 millimeter cartridges.
Most significantly, the entire countermeasures system is integrated to permit automatic operation of a jammer or flare dispenser pod when the RWR identifies a threat.
Carriage of the CRM280 centerline reconnaissance module, where CRM stands for "Chassis de Reconnaissance Marine / Marine Reconnaissance Module)". This includes an AP40 panoramic camera and an SDS250 electro-optic imager, where "SDS" stands more or less for "Short Distance Sensor". The AP40 is a wet-film camera, capable of using grayscale or color film, and is mounted vertically. The SDS250 can be adjusted to observe vertically or 22 degrees, 30 degrees, or 60 degrees to either side. The data obtained by the SDS250 is dumped to magnetic tape. SDS250 imagery also comes up on the pilot's HUD, allowing him to monitor the reconnaissance system. The pilot has a simple "viewfinder" for the reconnaissance system on each side of the cockpit.
The capability to self-designate LGBs.
All SEMs were up to Standard 4 by the end of 2002, with the "Standard 5" introduced the next year. Standard 5 was intended to provide a "night attack" capability, built around the new Damocles targeting pod. The Damocles not only uses an infrared imager, permitting night operations, but also has higher image resolution, permitting greater standoff range.
The Standard 5 SEM cockpit has also been modified with lighting compatible with night vision goggles (NVGs). Aeronavale pilots trained for NVG flight operations are called "Hiboux (Owls)" and wear owl patches. A pilot cannot eject with current NVGs in place, since the unbalanced weight might snap his neck, or they might tear off and slam into his vitals. A pilot has to remove the NVGs before punching out, but new NVGs have been developed that automatically blow off when the ejection seat is activated.
Another major innovation with the Standard 5 SEM was the PCN90 flight computer and the associated UNI40 inertial navigation system (INS) with a Global Position System (GPS) satellite receiver subsystem. The PCN90/UNI140 system allows up to 63 navigation waypoints to be preprogrammed before a mission.
* More improvements are under consideration:
A "kneeboard" display with navigation data, there being no space to put another display on the dashboard. The technology is in use by French military helicopter pilots, but an NVG-compatible display is required for the SEM.
A small optical telescope system to permit long-range target identification, since the greater standoff range of modern guided weapons makes "friendly fire" incidents more likely.
A solid-state recorder for the CRM280 pod.
New functionality for the Anemone radar, including the ability to cue Matra Magic AAMs to the radar, and an improved autopilot.
* The Aeronavale's SEMs saw combat action during the Balkan Wars in the late 1990s and in the invasion of Afghanistan in 2002. With all the updates, the Super Etendard will remain in service to 2011 at least. The airframe is very strong and airframe life is not a major concern.
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