“SUE & SEM”: Jorge Núñez Padín revisits four decades of Super Etendard in Argentine Navy service

Nearly four decades after launching its initial and iconic monographic collection, Jorge Núñez Padín is about to release its latest Serie Aeronaval edition under his new umbrella brand, Australis.

“Serie Aeronaval Nº 40: Super Étendard/SEM” is set to reveal an enlarged, updated and lavishly illustrated story of Argentine Navy Super Étendard and Super Étendard Modernisé operations providing knowledge not previously avialable in preceding editions on the subject (Series Aeronavales #12, 22 and 30).

Written in Spanish and organised in a conventional Australis layout, the monograph will comprise chapters covering the service type career in Argentine Navy service and its intertwining in international military affairs, a thorough technical description of the SUE (Super Étendard) and SEM (Super Étendard Modernisé) weapon systems, detailed individual aircraft histories and painting specifications.

The text proposes a revisited and enhanced chronicle of events ranging from initial SUE evaluation in the second half of the 1970 decade to acquisition and delivery of five French surplus SEMs in the late 2010s, from their makeshift deployment into high-impact and controversial combat missions during the 1982 Malvinas air war (including classified information not released previously) to shipborne operations off the decks of Argentine, American and Brazilian aircraft carriers between 1983 and 2010.

Super Étendard Modernisé’s transition livery (art by: Marcelo Morard).

Front cover design for Jorge Núñez’ forthcoming SUE & SEM monograph.

Two Super Étendards at Aerplata ’97 airshow (photo via Australis).

SEM testing landing parachute at Espora.

Mixed SUE and SEM line-up (photo: Sergio García Pedroche).

First SEM wearing EA32 badge.

Upper view and related illustrations for SEM #44 (art: Marcelo Morard).

3-A-211, as seen after touch and go tests on US aircraft carrier “Abraham Lincoln” (photo: Jorge Núñez Padín).

The chronicle also delves into fleet evolution and attrition losses (from SUE pre-war deliveries in 1981 and inventory completion in 1982 through variant stand-down in the early 2010s), the long-expected type revival (SEM acquistion in the mid-2010s and their troubled restoration to operational condition), operational training exercises (both internal, joint and combined) and “show time” appearances both locally and abroad.

Last, but definitively not the least, the monograph also promises to reveal hitherto unknown historical images, fantastic digital profiles by master artist, Marcelo Morard, and a selection of exclusive digital photographs produced for the monograph by notoriouos Bahía Blanca photographer, Sergio García Pedroche, and may be the first to reveal Argentine Navy serials for SEMs.

Serie Aeronaval #40 is about to dayview and reach Argentine bookstores and Australis digital shop later in April; with foreign sales outlets getting copies in the remainder of the semester… hopefully!