- Yes
- No
A-7P in flight c.1984 (source: File:Portuguese A-7P Corsair II in flight c1984.jpg - Wikimedia Commons)
TL;DR: A-7A refurbished with advanced avionics and weaponry in Portuguese Air Force service.
The LTV A-7P Corsair II was a variant of the A-7 that served in the Portuguese Air Force during the 1980s and 90s. These aircraft were converted from retired US Navy A-7As and retained some of their features, like the twin 20 mm Colt Mk 12 cannons and the TF30 engine (albeit the slightly more powerful 408 version). However, they were refitted with new avionics, initially of the A-7D/E standard, but later upgraded with even newer equipment, and could carry advanced weaponry, such as AIM-9L Sidewinders and AGM-65B/G Mavericks. This suggestion pertains to the final and most advanced state of the A-7P, which was achieved by the mid-1990s.
History
Since the 1970s, Portugal has been trying to acquire new aircraft to replace their ageing and obsolete fleet of F-84s, F-86s, and G.91s, but all attempts failed due to financial or political reasons. They got close to purchasing the F-5E, but in the end, they chose to buy the cheaper A-7. They would come in two batches totalling 50 aircraft, 6 of which would be dual-seat trainers. The single-seat aircraft would be designated A-7P and the trainers would be designated TA-7P, the P standing for Portugal. The first aircraft was delivered in 1981. These aircraft were not new builds, but instead converted from retired US Navy A-7As. The engine would be the TF-30-P-408 which generated 59.56 kN thrust (this was the version used on the B/C variants). The guns would be the same twin 20 mm Colt Mk 12 cannons, although on the TA-7P they were replaced by the oxygen system.
The biggest upgrade would be in avionics, which were initially of the A-7D/E standard. This included the Navigation/Weapon Delivery Computer (NWDC), air data computer (ADC), Flight Data Computer (FDC), AN/AVQ head-up display (HUD), ASCU/JBOX armament pylon station control unit, projected map display system (PMDS), AN/ASN-90 inertial navigation system, AN/ASN-190 navigation Doppler radar, and the AN/APQ-126 terrain-following radar. Between 1982 and 1989 they received the AN/ALR-46 RWR, though in 1990 it would be again replaced by the SPS-1000, along with the addition of the AN/ALE-40 countermeasure dispenser. In 1991 the A-7P received its final avionics addition: the AN/ALQ-131 ECM pod.
Being upgraded with A-7D/E avionics, the A-7P could launch many advanced weapons. For air-to-air, it was initially equipped with the AIM-9P, but near the end of its service, it received the AIM-9L. For air-to-ground, it could carry a wide range of bombs and rockets, and it could also use the AGM-65B/G Mavericks. The Mavericks were key to the anti-shipping role they were expected to fulfil in a war against the Warsaw Pact.
Over the course of its service, 14 A-7Ps were lost to accidents, and a lack of parts grounded large parts of the fleet and forced some airframes to be cannibalized for parts to service other aircraft. In some months the whole fleet of A-7Ps only flew a handful of flight hours. Finally, the Portuguese Air Force acquired F-16 Fighting Falcons as replacements in the 1990s, and the A-7P was retired in 1999.
Design and specifications
N.B. Flight performance data is from the SAC of the USN A-7A, as I could not find statistics on the A-7P. The A-7P probably has slightly different flight performance statistics due to the more powerful engine and possibly heavier weight from the new avionics.
General characteristics:
- Crew: 1
- Wingspan: 11.8 m
- Length: 14.06 m
- Height: 4.9 m
- Wing area: 34.83 m²
- Empty weight: 7029 kg
- Engine: 1x Pratt & Whitney TF30-P-408, 59.56 kN thrust
Performance:
- Max speed: 595 kn (685 mph, 1,102 km/h) at sea level
- Climb rate: 7900 fpm (40 m/s) at sea level
- Service ceiling: 40,200 ft (12,253 m)
- Combat radius: 975 nm (1,806 km)
Avionics and armament:
- Avionics and countermeasure systems:
- AN/ASN-190 navigation doppler radar
- AN/APQ-126 terrain-following radar
- SPS-1000 RWR
- AN/ALE-40 countermeasure dispenser
- AN/ALQ-131 ECM pod
- Armaments:
- 2x 20 mm Colt Mk 12 cannons
- AIM-9P/L
- AGM-65B/G
- BAP 100, Rockeye II, BL755 cluster bombs
- M117, Mk 82, Mk 83, Mk 84 bombs
- FFAR, CRV-7 rockets
More pictures
One of the retired A-7Ps at Monte Real Air Base, shown here during the 2022 base open day. This special paint scheme is to mark 64,000 hours flown by Portuguese Air Force A-7s between 1981 and 1999. Could be a cool camouflage in-game. (source: Ling-Temco-Vought A-7P Corsair II ‘15521’ | c/n A-043 Built … | Flickr)
Another retired A-7Ps at Monte Real Air Base, this one serving as a gate guardian, shown here during the 2022 base open day armed with mockups of Mavericks and GP bombs (source: Ling-Temco-Vought A-7P Corsair II ‘15524’ | c/n A-071 / P-02… | Flickr)
This retired A-7P was donated to the Polish Aviation Museum in Kraków (source: File:Krakow Muzeum Lotnictwa Polskiego 17.jpg - Wikimedia Commons)
A-7P being repaired after an emergency landing without the engine (source: LTV A-7P Corsair II - Portugal - Air Force | Aviation Photo #0890539 | Airliners.net)
Sources
- Osprey Air Combat Vought A 7 Corsair II by Robert F Dorr
- Squadron Signal Walk Around 5544 A 7 Corsair II
- Walkarounds - Aviação Militar Portuguesa: A-7P Corsair II
- a-7p
- Esq. 201 Falcões
- LTV A-7P Corsair II - Wikipedia
- https://www.avialogs.com/aircraft-v/vought/item/5172-navair-00-110aa7-1-a-7a-crusader-ii-standard-aircraft-characteristics-1-july-1967