Dassault Étendard VI

The Dassault Étendard VI was a French prototype fighter aircraft developed as Dassault's entry in the NATO NBMR-1 competition to find a standard light strike fighter for the alliance's air forces. Originally designated Mystère XXVI, it was accepted as one of the entrants to be built to prototype stage for a fly-off. Dassault used the fact that the French Air Force had issued a similar fighter-bomber requirement at the same time, and designed the Étendard VI and the Étendard II as variations on one design concept for the two customers. It was powered by a single Bristol Siddeley Orpheus turbojet and carried two 30 mm cannon or four 12.7 mm machine guns. It fared well in test flights but lost to the Aeritalia G.91, and the Étendard IV later reached service with the French Navy.