A-7E

This page is about the American strike aircraft A-7E. For other versions, see A-7 Corsair II (Family).

A-7E

A-7D

A-10C

A-7E

A-7D

A-10C

USA

VII Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
11.0	10.7	10.3

Class:

Strike aircraft

Naval aircraft

Research:175 000

Purchase:950 000

Description

The A-7E was the last version of the Corsair II series used by the US armed services, operational from 1968 until retirement in 1991. Thailand, Portugal, and Greece continued to use the A-7E, with Greece retiring it in 2014.  It was a modified A-7D for naval operations with features like an arrestor hook, heavy-duty landing gear, and foldable wings for carrier operations. Upgrades included AN/APN-190 and AN/APQ-128 radars for ground-hugging flight, the aircraft also added hardpoints for the AIM-9D Sidewinder and retained the same capabilities of the A-7D in terms of ground attack.

It was introduced in Update "Ground Breaking". The A-7E Corsair II is among the most capable ground attack aircraft in the game, sporting a variety of air-to-ground payloads including large calibre rotary cannon pods, unguided bombs and rockets, and medium range guided bombs. Additionally, CCIP and CCRP can be used for accurate usage of unguided weaponry, while an optional FLIR pod grants night vision and thermal sights to easily spot targets. This supreme air-to-ground capability comes with a hefty price; the A-7E is strictly limited to that ground attack role, as it has very slow speed and poor manoeuvrability which leaves it basically helpless in air-to-air combat.

General info

Flight performance

Arrestor gear

Accelerates braking by grabbing the brake cable on the deck of the aircraft carrier

Air brakes

Allows you to dramatically reduce the flight speed by releasing special flaps

Max speed

at 0 m1 123 km/h

Turn time35 s

Max altitude12 497 m

EngineAllison TF-41-A-2

TypeJet

Cooling systemAir

Take-off weight19 t

Characteristics	Max Speed (km/h at 0 m - sea level)		Max altitude (metres)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (metres/second)		Take-off run (metres)
	AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
Stock	1,114	1,108	12497	35.4	37.0	42.1	41.7	1,000
Upgraded	1,133	1,123		34.6	35.0	68.9	55.0

Details

Features
Combat flaps	Take-off flaps	Landing flaps	Air brakes	Arrestor gear	Drogue chute
✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	X

Limits
Wings (km/h)	Gear (km/h)	Flaps (km/h)			Max Static G
		Combat	Take-off	Landing	+	-
1,254	407	484	457	406	~10	~4

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< 700	< 690	< 500	N/A

Engine performance

Engine			Aircraft mass
Engine name		Number	Basic mass			Wing loading (full fuel)
Allison TF-41-A-2		1	9,106 kg			392 kg/m2
Engine characteristics			Mass with fuel (no weapons load)					Max Gross Weight
Weight (each)	Type		15m fuel	20m fuel	30m fuel	45m fuel	53m fuel
1,592 kg	Low-bypass turbofan		10,472 kg	10,820 kg	11,678 kg	12,963 kg	13,658 kg	19,479 kg
Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB/SB)			Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (100%)
Condition	100%	WEP	15m fuel	20m fuel	30m fuel	45m fuel	53m fuel	MGW
Stationary	6,315 kgf	-	0.60	0.58	0.54	0.49	0.46	0.32
Optimal	6,378 kgf (200 km/h)	-	0.61	0.59	0.55	0.49	0.47	0.33

Survivability and armour

Flares/Chaff

Aircraft countermeasures to distract IR and radar-guided missiles and also AA radar

Crew1 person

Speed of destruction

Structural0 km/h

Gear407 km/h

Examine the survivability of the aircraft. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured, etc. Describe the armour, if there is any, and also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB3 623 → 4 999

RB9 063 → 12 506

SB10 745 → 14 828

Total cost of modifications294 200

454 000

Talisman cost3 000

Crew training270 000

Experts950 000

Aces3 200

Research Aces1 210 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

90 / 320 / 600 %

244 / 244 / 244 %

Modifications

Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
Compressor Research: 10 000 Cost: 15 000 390 New boosters Research: 9 600 Cost: 15 000 380 Wings repair Research: 12 000 Cost: 19 000 470 Engine Research: 19 000 Cost: 29 000 750	Fuselage repair Research: 10 000 Cost: 15 000 390 Airframe Research: 9 600 Cost: 15 000 380 G-suit Research: 12 000 Cost: 19 000 470 Cover Research: 19 000 Cost: 29 000 750	Gun pod SUU-23/A. Research: 10 000 Cost: 15 000 390 Flares/Chaff Research: 10 000 Cost: 15 000 390 Mk82 Research: 10 000 Cost: 15 000 390 LAU-3/A Research: 10 000 Cost: 15 000 390 M60_belt_pack Research: 9 600 Cost: 15 000 380 Gun pod GPU-5/A. Research: 9 600 Cost: 15 000 380 M117 Research: 9 600 Cost: 15 000 380 BLU-27/B Research: 9 600 Cost: 15 000 380 LAU-10/A Research: 9 600 Cost: 15 000 380 M60_new_gun Research: 12 000 Cost: 19 000 470 GAU_13A_belt_pack Research: 12 000 Cost: 19 000 470 Mk83 Research: 12 000 Cost: 19 000 470 AIM-9G Research: 12 000 Cost: 19 000 470 GAU_13A_new_gun Research: 19 000 Cost: 29 000 750 Mk84 Research: 19 000 Cost: 29 000 750 AGM-62A Research: 19 000 Cost: 29 000 750

Armaments

Ballistic Computer
CCIP (Guns)	CCIP (Rockets)	CCIP (Bombs)	CCRP (Bombs)

Offensive armament

The A-7E is armed with:

• A choice between two presets:
  • 1 x 20 mm M61A1 cannon, chin-mounted (1,000 rpg)
  • 1 x 20 mm M61A1 cannon + 120 x countermeasures

Suspended armament

The A-7E can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
20 mm GAU-4 cannons (1,200 rpg)			1			1
30 mm GAU-13/A cannons (353 rpg)			1			1
250 lb LDGP Mk 81 bombs	6	6	4			4	6	6
250 lb Mk 81 Snakeye bombs	6	6	4			4	6	6
500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs	6	6	4			4	6	6
500 lb Mk 82 Snakeye bombs	6	6	4			4	6	6
750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs	1	4	2			2	4	1
1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs	3	3	2			2	3	3
2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 bombs	1	1	1			1	1	1
2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 Air bombs	1	1	1			1	1	1
510 kg AGM-62A Walleye I ER bombs	1	1	1			1	1	1
BLU-27/B incendiary bombs	1	1	1			1	1	1
FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets	38	38	38			38	38	38
Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets	12	12	8			8	12	12
AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles				1	1
AIM-9G Sidewinder missiles				1	1
LANA Flir Navigation Pod			1
Maximum permissible loadout weight: 7,260 kg Maximum permissible wing load: 3,630 kg Maximum permissible weight imbalance: 2,900 kg

Default weapon presets

Without load 2 x AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles 2 x AIM-9G Sidewinder missiles 228 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets 64 x Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets 32 x 250 lb LDGP Mk 81 bombs (8,000 lb total) 32 x 250 lb Mk 81 Snakeye bombs (8,000 lb total) 32 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs (16,000 lb total) 32 x 500 lb Mk 82 Snakeye bombs (16,000 lb total) 14 x 750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs (10,500 lb total) 16 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs (16,000 lb total) 6 x 2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 bombs (12,000 lb total) 6 x 2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 Air bombs (12,000 lb total) 6 x BLU-27/B incendiary bombs 6 x 510 kg AGM-62A Walleye I ER bombs (3,060 kg total) 2 x 20 mm GAU-4 cannons (1,200 rpg = 2,400 total) 2 x 30 mm GAU-13/A cannons (353 rpg = 706 total)

Usage in battles

Ground RB

Ground RB is where the A-7E truly shines. Its poor flight performance and manoeuvrability is less of an issue due to a lessened fighter presence. In Ground RB, the A-7E's most potent weapon is the AGM-62A Walleye I ER guided bombs. These bombs are fire-and-forget and can still reliably hit a target point from more than five kilometers away. However, it has trouble tracking moving targets, so don't expect to reliably hit moving targets.

Additionally, an AN/AAR-45 Lana FLIR pod can optionally be carried in place of one Walleye guided bomb. This pod grants night vision and thermal imaging capabilities, allowing for significantly easier location of enemy vehicles. It is highly recommended to sacrifice a Walleye for the FLIR pod, as the Walleye's targeting sight uses very dark colors which at long distances make enemy tanks hard to distinguish from other common objects such as rocks. Even so, when using the FLIR pod, it can be easy to mistake dead tanks for alive tanks as they both give off generally similar thermal images. The best way to recognize an alive tank is the lack of particle effect (dead tanks are burning).

When you first spawn in with the Walleyes, you must first gain some altitude. As the A-7E is very slow, it is essential that if you you enter directly above the battlefield, it is at higher altitudes (at the very, very least 5 kilometers) to ensure safety from enemy SAMs. Be sure to take note of who your opponent is; if you are facing China, their Tor-M1s have a long range, so to stay safe try to climb to at least 6.5 kilometers.

Once you are at this altitude, enter a shallow dive to point your sights down and locate targets using either the Walleye's own targeting sight or the FLIR pod. Ideally, you will be high enough that SAMs cannot reach, so you can focus mainly on locating targets. A good place to look is the enemy spawn, where SAM vehicles generally tend to reside. As they are poorly armored and usually stationary, the Walleyes inability to reliably track moving targets is less of an issue. Once you find an enemy, simply lock on to them with the bomb and drop the bomb. After this, you don't need to worry about the dropped bomb as it is fire-and-forget (no outside input is needed once it's dropped).

With many strike aircraft, this is where you would pitch back up and regain your lost altitude quickly to get out of SAMs range. However, the A-7E is slow and accelerates poorly, so doing this repeatedly will make you quickly lose altitude, putting you into SAM range. Therefore, a good way to use the Walleyes is to drop most or all of them in one run, exploiting it's fire-and-forget capability. Once at high altitude, pitch down and deploy your airbrake to give you more dive time to search for targets. Use your FLIR pod to quickly locate an enemy, and when one is found, drop a Walleye on them, and quickly rinse and repeat five more times. Once your bombs are expended, continue the dive and level out at very low altitude to avoid any SAMs. After this, you can reclimb to drop any remaining bombs, use your gun and AIM-9s for air defense, or to go back to base and rearm.

Air RB

In Air RB, the A-7E is unfortunately extremely outclassed. Its potent ground attack capabilities offer minimal advantages in Air RB, and you are left only with its poor flight performance and bad manoeuvrability. Your best bet will be to attack ground targets in Air RB using your cannon. Don't try bombing bases as you are simply too slow; either other planes will get to the bases first, or the enemy will get to you first.

Air Combat in the A-7E is hazard fraught. Against other planes at a comparable BR, your advantages are slim-to-none, and easy to counter if your opponent is aware of you and mindful.

One advantage of the plane is that it does not have an afterburner, nor does it go fast enough to create a shock cone. This may enable you to start engagements with the element of surprise. In conjunction with the AIM-9G sidewinder missiles, this may be enough to secure 2 kills per battle against unaware opponents out of spotting range, as the AIM-9G modification of the sidewinder missile has a much larger engagement range compared to other IR missiles at its BR.

Additionally, you have exceptional gun armament: the M61A1 Vulcan has a lightning fast fire rate, exceptional muzzle velocity, and a deep pool of ammunition. At this BR, any hit you score on an enemy plane will catastrophically damage it, and the Vulcan cannon lets you score a multitude of hits. Due to the high muzzle velocity, it may be possible to win head-on engagements against enemy aircraft which have slower bullets. A non-exhaustive list of cannons this is effective against is as follows:

• The 30 mm ADEN/DEFA, including the gun in Swedish service as the Akan m/55
• The GSh-23L and any other guns that fire 23x115 mm rounds, for example the Type 23-2K

However, be aware that enemy aircraft will, in most cases, be faster than you, and will more easily evade your fire.

Furthermore, your low speed can, in some occasions, enable you to cut into an enemy's turn, meaning you will make a turn with a smaller radius, in a shorter time, because you are not going as fast. This will give you a temporary, but powerful positional advantage, enabling you to put the Vulcan to best use.

Unfortunately, this is where the list of advantages ends. The plane cannot generate or retain enough energy to stay competitive in a dogfight, and after a singular turn, or at most two, you will be out of energy and unable to follow your opponents' manoeuvres. This means that it is highly inadvisable to engage in a sustained rate fight with an enemy plane, as it will secure your death.

To add insult to injury, the plane cannot evade engagements either, as it is too slow. This leaves the A-7E in the uncomfortable position of being quick enough to where most opponents have good control of their aircraft when lining up a shot, but not quick enough to avoid being shot.

To summarize, if you must use the A-7E as a fighter, be sneaky with the missiles in the early game and secure sneaky kills on the most dangerous targets. Then, bait head-ons with opponents using slower guns, and finally, during the last phase of the battle, if you have survived this far, try to use your lower speed to gain position and finish the dogfight before it really starts.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Wide variety of powerful air-to-ground payloads, including up to six AGM-62 Walleye fire-and-forget TV guided bombs
• Has thermal sights in the form of an optional FLIR pod which greatly helps in locating ground targets in mixed battles
• Comes with an internal 20 mm M61A1 Vulcan cannon, with the option to add either more 20 mm M61A1 Vulcans or the devastating 30 mm GAU-13/A cannons as gunpods
• Large amount of countermeasures
• Cockpit has a heads-up display and tactical map, both of which are useful in simulator battles

Cons:

• Below average manoeuvrability and loses lots of speed in turns
• Has poor top speed and acceleration for its BR, which makes it very difficult to bomb bases without being intercepted
• Equipping suspended ordnance further worsens its sluggish flight performance
• When using the thermal sight, it may be hard to distinguish alive enemy tanks from destroyed tanks and fires
• Walleye guided bombs generally have trouble locking on to moving targets, especially from medium to long ranges (>5 km)
• Long landing distance (airbrake cannot be extended with landing gear out, and no drogue chute)

History

The last iteration of the Corsair II series adopted into the US armed services was the A-7E. This aircraft operationally ran from 1968 until it was retired from service in 1991. Other countries, Thailand, Portugal, and Greece continued to utilize the A-7E, with Greece being the last country to fly this aircraft, finally retiring it from service in 2014.

The A-7E is effectively a modified version of the A-7D upgraded for Naval operations. The main modifications to the aircraft allowed for its use in carrier operations, such as adding an arrestor hook, heavy-duty landing gear, and foldable wings allowing for more aircraft storage on or below the deck of aircraft carriers. This aircraft also received the newer AN/APN-190 Doppler ground speed and drift radar and the AN/APQ-128 terrain-following radar, which allowed for ground-hugging or terrain-hugging flight, making it more difficult for enemy radar units to detect the slower flying aircraft. As for the weapon loadout, this aircraft continued using the 20 mm M61-A1 rotary cannon and had two fuselage hard points for AIM-9D Sidewinders and up to six underwing hardpoints, which allowed for mounting of various rockets, missiles, or bombs.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the A-7E from live.warthunder.com.

Videos

The Shooting Range #277 - Metal Beasts section at 00:29 discusses the A-7E.

A-7E In War Thunder : A Basic Review - Tim's Variety War Thunder

See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

• reference to the series of the aircraft;
• links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links

• [Vought Heritage] LTV A-7D/E product overview