The Dassault-Breguet Super Etendard was a major development from the Etendard IV carrier-borne fighter which had been an important part of the Aéronavale before; it also made up for the failure of a maritime version of the Jaguar to replace both the Etendard and the Crusader. The Super Etendard represented a considerable improvement from its predecessor: fuselage redesigns gave it better performance, and a modern avionics suite was incorporated which included an inertial navigation system and the Agave multi-mode radar. Weaponry included the superb Exocet anti-ship missile as well as both free-fall and stand-off nuclear weapons like the ASMP making it by far the most potent strike aircraft in the Aéronavale's inventory. Export clients were Argentina and Iran, both of which actually used the aircraft in combat. During the Falklands War, Argentine Super Etendards sank two British ships with Exocets without suffering any losses.

The prototype Super Etendard achieved its first flight on 3 October 1975. Besides the basic production variant, no other versions have been designed although it has received a number of upgrades throughout its service life which have included airframe modifications, an improved cockpit and avionics set as well as the ability to carry the ASMP nuclear missile. Super Etendards are scheduled to be slowly phased out in favor of the Rafale M.