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 Operationally, the A-7E was superseded by the F/A-18A Hornet in USN service and by the F-16AM in Portuguese service.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.
- 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