Cessna A-37 Dragonfly

Service And Conflict Use

1. 1964-1966

   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. Jan 1, 1967

   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. Jan 1, 1969

   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. Jan 1, 1989

   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. Jan 1, 1992

   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

Aircraft & UAVsAlpha Jet attack aircraftTwin-engine advanced trainer and light attack aircraftThe Alpha Jet is a Franco-German twin-engine trainer and light attack aircraft developed by Dassault-Breguet and Dornier for training and tactical support. Nigerian and Cameroonian aircraft used it in the Boko Haram Insurgency, while Nigerian Alpha Jets also flew with ECOMOG in Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Aircraft & UAVsAir Tractor AT-802Agricultural and armed multi-mission turboprop aircraftThe Air Tractor AT-802 is an American single-engine turboprop agricultural aircraft that also became the basis for the armed AT-802U multi-mission platform, an armored ISR and strike aircraft built for austere-field operations.

Aircraft & UAVsL-159 ALCALight attack aircraft / advanced trainerThe L-159 ALCA is a Czech single-engine light attack aircraft and advanced trainer developed by Aero Vodochody from the Albatros family. Iraq fielded the type in anti-ISIS operations around Mosul, where it flew close air support and strike missions with Czech advisers helping Iraqi crews integrate the aircraft.

Aircraft & 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.

Aircraft & UAVsOA-1K Skyraider IICrewed light attack and armed overwatch aircraftThe OA-1K Skyraider II is a U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command light attack and armed overwatch aircraft built by L3Harris and Air Tractor on the AT-802U platform. AFSOC describes it as a flexible crewed aircraft for close air support, precision strike, and armed ISR, while L3Harris says the missionized configuration can loiter for six hours at a 200 nm combat radius with a 6,000 lb load-out.

Aircraft & UAVsAMX International AMXLight attack and reconnaissance aircraftThe AMX International AMX is an Italian-Brazilian light attack and reconnaissance jet developed by Aeritalia, Aermacchi, and Embraer. The type entered Italian service in 1988, remained in combat use for decades, and accumulated documented deployments from Bosnia and Kosovo to Afghanistan, Libya, and anti-Daesh operations in Kuwait.

Sources