LTV Aerospace A-7E Corsair II Aircraft Data
The A-7 Corsair II was developed as a replacement for the US Navy's fleet of A-4 Skyhawks. Like the A-4, the A-7 is a single-engined design, focused on the air-to-ground mission. The Corsair II has the distinction of being the only US design, since World War II, to be developed straight into combat. As with Vietnam, the A-7 served in Grenada, Lebanon, the Persian Gulf, Libya, Panama, Desert Shield/Storm. The last Navy A-7's were retired from service in May, 1991.
The A-7E is the U.S. Navy's variant of the USAF's A-7D fighter-bomber. From 1971, onward, the A-7E equipped 27 USN squadrons. Older A-7A/C models were eventually upgraded to E-standard. Of the improvements introduced with the A-7E, were all-weather, day/night FLIR, the HUD and terrain-following RADAR. Portugal operated a version of the A-7E, designated A-7P, with two squadrons. The A-7H, a version of the A-7E built for Greece, serves to this day. Operationally, the A-7E was superseded by the F/A-18A Hornet in USN service and by the F-16AM in Portuguese service. Greek A-7H's are slated to be replaced by the F-16C Block 52, in the near future. The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) purchased 14 A-7E/TA-7C's in the 1990's and operated them from U-Tapao airfield. The RTN Corsairs are not currently airworthy and are maintained in taxi-only condition.
The A-7E is the U.S. Navy's variant of the USAF's A-7D fighter-bomber. From 1971, onward, the A-7E equipped 27 USN squadrons. Older A-7A/C models were eventually upgraded to E-standard. Of the improvements introduced with the A-7E, were all-weather, day/night FLIR, the HUD and terrain-following RADAR. Portugal operated a version of the A-7E, designated A-7P, with two squadrons. The A-7H, a version of the A-7E built for Greece, serves to this day. Operationally, the A-7E was superseded by the F/A-18A Hornet in USN service and by the F-16AM in Portuguese service. Greek A-7H's are slated to be replaced by the F-16C Block 52, in the near future. The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) purchased 14 A-7E/TA-7C's in the 1990's and operated them from U-Tapao airfield. The RTN Corsairs are not currently airworthy and are maintained in taxi-only condition.
- Country of Origin: USA
- First Flight: 11/25/68
- Initial Service Date: 1971
- No. Built: 529
- No. In Service: 60 (approx.)
- No. of Hardpoints: 8
- Crew: 1
Power:
1× Allison TF41-A-2 non-afterburning turbofan at 14,500 lbf
Weapons:
1 x 20mm M61 Vulcan Gatling gun with 1,000 rounds.
4 x LAU-5003 rocket pods
2 x AIM-9 Sidewinder AAM's
2 x AGM-45 Shrike ARM's
2 x AGM-62 Walleye TV-guided bombs
2 x AGM-88 HARM's
2 x GBU-15 LGB's
or 30x500 lb Mark 80/82 unguided bombs
4 x B28/B57/B61 nuclear bombs
4 x LAU-5003 rocket pods
2 x AIM-9 Sidewinder AAM's
2 x AGM-45 Shrike ARM's
2 x AGM-62 Walleye TV-guided bombs
2 x AGM-88 HARM's
2 x GBU-15 LGB's
or 30x500 lb Mark 80/82 unguided bombs
4 x B28/B57/B61 nuclear bombs
Dimensions:
| Length: | 46 ft. 1.5 in. |
| Wing Span: | 38 ft. 9 in. |
| Wing Area: | 375 sq.ft |
| Height: | 16 ft. 0.75 in. |
| Empty Weight: | 19,490 lbs |
| Max. Weight: | 42,000 lbs |
| Max. Ordnance Load: | 15,000 lbs |
Performance:
| Max. Speed: | 698 mph |
| Cruise Speed: | 545 mph |
| Service Ceiling: | 42,000 ft. |
| Normal Range: | 621 nm |
| Max. Range: | 2,485 nm |
Random great photos of the LTV Aerospace A-7E Corsair II:
