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A-7 Corsair II
Photo Gallery
Built originally on the airframe of the F-8U Crusader, the A-7 underwent a
number
of modifications since its 1965 introduction. The A-7 Corsair II, which is
retired, was used by TAC for close air support attack missions.
The A-7E was the final fleet version of the A-7. After more than two decades
of service, however, it was replaced by the F/A-18 Hornet.The A-7E had a 20mm
gun and can carry payloads of up to 15,000 pounds of bombs and missiles. Eight
ordnance stations were available. A-7E Corsair IIs were part of the two-carrier
battle group that conducted a joint strike on selected Libyan terrorist-related
targets in 1986. Together with carrier-based F/A-18s, A-7s used anti-radiation
missiles to neutralize Libyan air defenses.
F/A-18s replaced A-7Es in the carrier air wing mix. The last two squadrons
transitioned in FY 1992. Replacing A-7s with F/A-18s gave operational commanders
more flexibility by allowing them to employ the F/A-18s in either the fighter or
attack role. Also, a smaller number of aircraft (85) are needed in an F/A-18
equipped carrier air wing than in an A-7E equipped carrier air wing (94).
Specifications
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Contractor |
Ling-Temco-Vought (Prime, now Northrop Grumman Corp.)
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Power Plant |
Single Allison/Rolls Royce TF41-A-400 non-afterburning
turbofan engine with a static thrust rating of 15,000 pounds |
Accommodations |
A-7E Pilot only
TA-7C Two seats
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Performance (A-7E/TA/7C) |
Maximum speed at 20,000 feet Mach .94
Range greater than 1,900 nautical miles
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Avionics & Countermeasures |
APQ-126 multi-mode nav/attack radar [Texas Instruments]
AVQ-7 raster HUD
ASN-91 INS, ASN-190 Doppler navigation system
ASU-99 projected map display
ALR-45 RWR
ALR-50 SAM warning system [Magnavox]
ALQ-126 ECM [ Sanders]
APR-43 tactical radar warning system [Loral]
ALQ-119 ECM [Westinghouse]
ALQ-131 ECM [Westinghouse]
ALQ-123 IR countermeasures [Xerox]
ALQ-126 DECM [Sanders]
ALQ-162 tactical communications jammer [Eaton AIL]
ALQ-162 radar jammer Northrup
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Armament (A-7E/TA-7C) |
One internally mounted M61A1 20 mm six barrel cannon
Six wing pylons
Two fuselage launch stations
Pylons can carry a large single weapon, multiple racks capable of six
weapons per rack, or triple racks with three weapons per rack.
Can carry 15,000 pounds of payload
Compatible with practically all first line ordnance used by the U.S./USAF/NATO.
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Mission and Capabilities |
Modern, sophisticated, integrated, highly versatile airborne weapon
system platform
Capable of performing a variety of search, surveillance, and attack
missions
Can carry four externally wing-mounted 300 gallon fuel tanks, coupled
with a variety of ordnance on remaining stations.
Can conduct in-flight refueling operations
Capable of transferring more than 12,000 pounds of fuel
Fully integrated digital navigation/weapon delivery system is common to
all current USN/USAF attack aircraft.
Avionics system—which is based on state-of-the-art electronics, digital
computing techniques, and an automation philosophy—provides unparalleled
mission effectiveness and flexibility.
The Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) capability means the A-7's night
attack accuracy is equivalent to day attack accuracy.
Consistently capable of delivering bombs with an accuracy of less than
10 mils Circular Error Probable (CEP) and guns at less than 5 mils CEP.
During Desert Storm, demonstrated more than 95% operational readiness
and did not miss a single combat sortie.
Has flown more than 120,000 combat sorties and provided unprecedented
response in Vietnam, Libya, Grenada, Panama, and Desert Storm.
Survivability is enhanced via armor plating in critical areas and a
state-of-the art DECM.
Modernized with a new solid-state rate gyro assembly in the Automatic
Flight Control System and a wing enhancement program that virtually
eliminates flight hours as a constraint for measuring aircraft service life.
Average scheduled/unscheduled direct maintenance man hours per flight
hour is 11.
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External Dimensions:
Wing Span |
11.8m |
Wing span over missiles |
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Wing chord: at root |
4.72m |
Wing chord: at tip |
1.18m |
Wing aspect ratio |
4 |
Width, wings folded |
7.24m |
Length overall |
14.06m |
Height overall |
4.90m |
Tailplane span |
5.52m |
Distance between fin tips |
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Wheel track |
2.90m |
Wheelbase |
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Areas:
Wings, gross |
34.83m2 |
Ailerons (total) |
1.85m2 |
Leading-edge flaps (total) |
3.46m2 |
Trailing-edge flaps (total) |
4.04m2 |
Vert Tail Services (total) |
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Horz Tail Services (total) |
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Tailerons (total) |
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Weights and Loadings:
Weight empty |
8,676kg |
Maximum fuel weight |
Maximum external stores load |
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Take off weight (normal) |
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Fighter mission
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Attack mission
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Maximum
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Maximum wing loading (attack mission) |
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Performance (At Maximum
Takeoff Weight of 19,050kg):
Max level speed @ S.L. |
600 knots |
Max speed, intermediate power |
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Approach speed |
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T-O run @ maximum take-off weight of 1,705m |
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Minimum wind over deck: |
Launching
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Recovery
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Combat radius, interdiction, hi-lo-lo-hi |
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Combat endurance, CAP 150 nm
from aircraft carrier |
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Ferry range, unrefueled w/max internal & external fuel |
2,485nm |
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