Dassault Étendard IVP
Dassault · France · first flew 1960 · reconnaissance aircraft
The Dassault Étendard IVP was the dedicated photographic and tanker reconnaissance variant of the French Navy's Étendard IV carrier strike aircraft. Fitted with cameras replacing the guns and a refuelling pod capability, it served as the Aéronavale's primary tactical reconnaissance platform for over three decades.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turbojet, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Lateral air intakes flanking the fuselage nose |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Single-engine swept-wing carrier aircraft with nose camera installation
- Lateral air intakes flanking the fuselage nose
- Refuelling probe above the nose
Distinguished from the IVM by the camera nose replacing the gun ports, the refuelling probe above the cockpit windscreen, and the absence of weapon pylons; the swept mid-wing and lateral intakes are common to both variants.
Specifications
- The Dassault Étendard IVP has a length of 14.4 m (47 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.6 m (31 ft).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The Étendard IV first flew in 1958 and the IVP reconnaissance variant entered Aéronavale service in 1964. The IVP replaced its cannon armament with forward- and oblique-facing cameras in the nose and could carry a buddy-buddy refuelling pod to support strike missions. It served alongside the Étendard IVM strike variant aboard the carriers Foch and Clemenceau.
Variants
The Étendard IVM was the principal strike variant; the IVP was the dedicated reconnaissance/tanker version; the Super Étendard was an entirely redesigned successor that replaced both variants from the 1980s.
Where you'll see it
The Étendard IVP served with the French Navy from 1964 until final retirement in 2000, providing reconnaissance support during numerous overseas deployments including operations in the Gulf, Lebanon and the former Yugoslavia.
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