A-7 Corsair II

The single-seat, single-engine, subsonic A-7 Corsair II was a carrier aircraft in service with the United States Navy. Submitted in 1964 and in combat service by 1967, the A-7 performed admirably against targets in Vietnam. The attack aircraft, based heavily off of the successful F-8 Crusader, could muster out max speeds of 0.94 Mach. It was superbly manuverable, though a small thrust-to-weight ratio from its then non-afterburning TF30-P-6 engine, developed for the F-111, did not give it the ability to outperform its fighter counterparts. Strikes on Lybia in 1986 would be made by upgraded A-7D/E Corsair II's, escorted by F/A-18 and F-14 aircraft during deep penetration missions. The final incarnation of the A-7E saw service during the 1991 Gulf War, where it was outfitted with sophisticated digital avionics and advanced guided munitions to wreak havoc with Iraqi troop positions. During the war, it has been noted that no A-7 had missed a sortie, and the aircraft maintained an incredible 95% operational capability rate.

Armaments

 * Gun:1x 20 mm M61A1 Vulcan Cannon


 * Missiles:AIM-9M Sidewinder


 * UGB: Mk-82

Comparable Aircraft

 * A-6E Intruder


 * A-4M Skyhawk


 * Nanchang Q-5 Fantan


 * Sukhoi Su-17 Fitter-C

A-10A Thunderbolt II

Related Development

 * Vought F-8 Crusader