--- title: "Argentina Finally Retires the Legendary Super Étendard: British Ejection Seats Proved Stronger Than the French Modernization" description: "The Commander of the Argentine Navy announced the retirement of the Super Étendard attack aircraft due to the unavailability of parts for British Martin-Baker ejection seats, despite the 2019 French modernization." date: 2026-08-24T23:51:31.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/argentina-retires-legendary-super-etendard-british-ejection-seats tags: [argentina, super-etendard, naval-aviation, falklands-war, martin-baker, ukraine] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Argentina Finally Retires the Legendary Super Étendard: British Ejection Seats Proved Stronger Than the French Modernization ![Argentine Super Étendard 3-A-202 on the tarmac before final retirement from service](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/25/argentina-super-etendard-vyvod-iz-ekspluatatsii/argentina-super-etendard-vyvod-iz-ekspluatatsii-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - The Argentine Navy is retiring the Super Étendard because British Martin-Baker ejection seats cannot be maintained under export restrictions. - The five SEM received from France in 2019 for 14 million euros were never restored to flying capability. - The 2023 decision to remove the type from the register was reversed, but DIGAMC never authorized the test flights announced in August 2024. - In June 2024, Argentina considered transferring the Super Étendard to Ukraine; the type made its name in the 1982 Falklands War. Roman Enrique Olivero, Commander of the Argentine Navy, announced the retirement of the Super Étendard carrier-based attack aircraft. The decision marks the end of a long-running effort to return to service the aircraft that made their name in the 1982 Falklands War but which, over decades of service, had become a technically burdensome asset. According to the commander, the main reason was not airframe wear, but dependence on British ejection systems that cannot be maintained under export restrictions. ### Reason for Retirement — Martin-Baker Ejection Seats The key problem that led to the retirement of the attack aircraft turned out to be the Martin-Baker ejection seats of British manufacture. Their operation requires special types of ammunition (pyrotechnic charges) that Argentina cannot obtain due to UK export restrictions. Without access to these components, the ejection system is effectively unmaintainable, making flight impossible from the standpoint of crew safety. ### Modernization Attempt with France In 2019, Argentina received five modernized Super Étendard Modernisés (SEM) under an agreement with France worth 14 million euros. The package included spare parts and a simulator. However, according to the publication, the Argentine military was unable to restore the flying capability of these fighter-bombers, and the aircraft never returned to full operational service. ### Shifting Decisions: From Removal from the Register to an Attempted Restoration In 2023, then-Argentine Defense Minister Jorge Taiana decided to remove the Super Étendard from the naval aviation register. A year later, this decision was reversed, and talk of possibly restoring the aircraft resumed. In August 2024, Navy Commander Admiral Carlos María Alíev announced plans to conduct test flights after restoring the ejection system; the work was to be carried out by MBA Argentina, a company affiliated with ejection-seat manufacturer Martin-Baker. Nevertheless, the Directorate of Military Aviation (DIGAMC) never authorized the test flights, and the Navy abandoned further attempts to return the Super Étendard to service. ### Connection to Ukraine and the Falklands Legacy Meanwhile, in June 2024, the Argentine government was considering transferring Super Étendard carrier-based attack aircraft to Ukraine, capable of carrying anti-ship missiles. The historical significance of the type is confirmed by the 1982 Falklands War: on 4 May, two aircraft from Río Grande air base, refueled by a KC-130H Hercules, attacked the British destroyer HMS Sheffield with two AM39 Exocet missiles — one missed, the second hit and caused a fire, leading to the ship being abandoned and sinking. On 25 May, a pair of Super Étendard, aiming for the carriers HMS Hermes or HMS Invincible, accidentally struck the anchored container ship Atlantic Conveyor with both missiles, which also sank. During the war, Argentine Super Étendard carried out five combat sorties in pairs. ### Contradictory Data The source materials contain an inconsistency in the classification of the aircraft: in one place it is stated that the type in question is the same one Argentina received from France in 2019 and which "played a decisive role" in the Falklands War, while in another — that the aircraft mentioned "do not belong" to the type received in 2019. In fact, the 2019 SEM are a modernized version of the same family that took part in the 1982 conflict, so the source's wording contradicts itself. Moreover, the chronology of decisions (removal in 2023, reversal "a year later", Alíev's plans in August 2024, and the parallel consideration of a transfer to Ukraine in June 2024) is presented in a fragmented manner, and the exact sequence of administrative steps is not unambiguously clarified in the original source. ## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification - [The legendary Argentine attack aircraft Super Étendard is being prepared for retirement.](https://www.vietnam.vn/ru/cuong-kich-huyen-thoai-super-etendard-cua-argentina-chuan-bi-nhan-so-huu) - Подтверждает заявление командующего ВМС о выводе, причину в катапультах Martin-Baker, модернизацию SEM в 2019 году за 14 млн евро и историю Фолклендской войны. - [Five Super Étendard attack aircraft: can outdated Argentine planes strengthen Ukraine](https://focus.ua/voennye-novosti/652059-pyat-shturmovikov-super-etendard-smogut-li-ustarevshie-argentinskie-samolety-usilit-ukrainu) - Подтверждает линию о пяти машинах и обсуждении передачи Украине; детали по катапультам и хронологии решений требуют сверки с первоисточником. ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: Why is Argentina retiring the Super Étendard? **A:** According to Navy Commander Rear Admiral Roman Enrique Olivero, the main reason was the British Martin-Baker ejection seats, which require special ammunition for maintenance that is unavailable due to UK export restrictions. ### Q: Why did the 2019 French modernization fail? **A:** In 2019, Argentina received five SEM for 14 million euros along with spare parts and a simulator, but, according to the publication, the aircraft's flying capability could not be restored, and DIGAMC did not authorize the test flights announced in August 2024. ### Q: Are these aircraft connected to the Falklands War? **A:** Yes, the Super Étendard type made its name in 1982: Argentine aircraft hit HMS Sheffield and the container ship Atlantic Conveyor with Exocet missiles, carrying out five combat sorties in pairs. However, the source materials contain a contradictory statement about whether the 2019 aircraft belong to the same type.