The EA-7L was employed to mimic Soviet aircraft and was frequently equipped with various jamming and ECM pods
The A-7 Corsair II, built by LTV Aerospace Corporation (the same company that made the renowned F-8 Crusader), took the role of the A-4 Skyhawk as the primary light attack aircraft for Naval Aviation. The A-7 made its first flight in September 1965 and had many characteristics with the F-8 Crusader, particularly the single jet intake gaping beneath the nose.
The Corsair II, on the other hand, had a short, stubby profile that exuded toughness and made it clear that it was built to carry bombs. The Short, Little, Ugly, Fucker, or SLUF, as her aircrews dubbed the A-7, developed into perhaps the most effective tactical jet bomber of the Vietnam War.
The EA-7L variant’s distinctive ability to act as an enemy aircraft was something the SLUF was not designed to perform.
A total of eight TA-7Cs were converted into EA-7Ls due to a lack of TA-4 Skyhawks. These planes, which frequently carried a variety of jamming and ECM pods, were deployed by the Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 34 (VAQ-34) “Electric Horsemen” of the Fleet Electronic Warfare Support Group (FEWSG) to mimic Soviet aircraft.
In 1984, the EA-7Ls received an A-7E standard upgrade while keeping their twin seats. In 1991, the plane was retired. There are currently very few images of this long-forgotten variation of the powerful SLUF.
Photo by PH2 Bruce Trombecky / U.S. Navy and Sgt. W. Thornton / U.S. Air Force