Aircraft & UAVs

Cessna A-37 Dragonfly

The Cessna A-37 Dragonfly is an American light attack aircraft developed from the T-37 trainer for counterinsurgency and close-air-support work. The type entered Southeast Asia combat evaluation in 1967, carried a nose minigun and up to 3,000 pounds of ordnance, and later served with U.S. reserve units and several Latin American air forces.

Specifications

Power plant
Two General Electric J85-GE-17A turbojet engines
Max speed
507 mph at 16,000 ft
Range
460 miles
Ceiling
41,765 ft
Length
29 ft 3 in
Wingspan
35 ft 10 in
Height
8 ft 10 in
Weight
14,000 lb fully loaded
Armament
One 7.62mm Minigun and up to 3,000 lb of bombs, rockets, and/or missiles

Service And Conflict Use

Service History

In service
Evaluated in 1964-1966, entered Combat Dragon combat evaluation in 1967, and remained in Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard use until the last aircraft retired in 1992.
Used by
United States Air Force, Air Force Reserve, Air National Guard, South Vietnamese Air Force, Vietnam People's Air Force, Chilean Air Force, Colombian Air Force, Ecuadorian Air Force, Guatemalan Air Force, Peruvian Air Force, Royal Thai Air Force, Salvadoran Air Force

Conflict Usage

Official Air Force sources document Combat Dragon sorties over South Vietnam and southern Laos, and later OA-37 close air support sorties during Operation Just Cause in Panama.

Timeline

Cessna A-37 Dragonfly Key Events

  1. Prototype evaluation

    The National Museum says the Air Force evaluated modified T-37 trainers as YAT-37D counter-insurgency prototypes between 1964 and 1966.

    Sources: Cessna A-37 Dragonfly - National Museum of the USAF

  2. Combat Dragon goes to Southeast Asia

    The Air Force sent 25 A-37As to Southeast Asia under Combat Dragon, where they flew close air support, night interdiction, and forward air control missions over South Vietnam and southern Laos.

    Sources: Cessna A-37 Dragonfly - National Museum of the USAF, OA-37B Dragonfly - Hurlburt Field

  3. Vietnamese transfer and training

    The National Museum says the USAF provided 254 A-37Bs to the South Vietnamese Air Force, and Hurlburt Field notes that A-37B training also supported the military assistance program.

    Sources: Cessna A-37 Dragonfly - National Museum of the USAF, OA-37B Dragonfly - Hurlburt Field

  4. Panama support mission

    A Seymour Johnson Air Force Base fact sheet says an OA-37 Dragonfly flew close air support sorties during Operation Just Cause in Panama.

    Sources: 911 ARS Red Eagles

  5. Last U.S. retirement

    The National Museum says the last A-37 in Air Force Reserve or Air National Guard use was retired in 1992.

    Sources: Cessna A-37 Dragonfly - National Museum of the USAF

Cessna A-37 Dragonfly Images

Related Weapon Systems

SEPECAT Jaguar, Supersonic jet attack aircraft, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsSEPECAT JaguarSupersonic jet attack aircraftThe SEPECAT Jaguar is a Franco-British supersonic jet attack aircraft built for low-level strike, close air support, reconnaissance, and tactical nuclear delivery. Jointly developed by SEPECAT and later license-produced by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for India, it first flew in 1968 and went on to see documented combat use in the Western Sahara War, the Chadian-Libyan conflict, the Gulf War, the Bosnian War, the Kargil War, and the Cenepa War.

Sources