Su-17, A-7 Corsair II, SEPECAT Haguar

[Italy]

These three planes entered service around the same time and filled similar roles, and are still being flown today (although Greece may have retired theirs or will soon).

What are the advantages each plane had over the other, beginning with the first five years of service and how upgrades have proceeded over time.

It would seem that the Su-17 saw some very key upgrades in the 80s and 90s making it closer to the Tornado in capabilities.. but then again the Su-17 is much larger and heavier than the other two. On the other hand it also seemed to have inferior range than the Haguar and A-7 and a smaller max payload ability.

[Levsha]

The sort of thread topic that takes you back to 2004!

The Su-17 is one of the better Soviet types, although I wouldn't compare it to the Tornado.

[Bager1968]

The major advantage the A-7 had over the other two is its ability to operate from aircraft carriers.

[Gerard]

The major advantage the A-7 had over the other two is its ability to operate from aircraft carriers.

only partial true, not all A-7s could do that. Only US Navy versions could.

[poloaa009]

I'm going to have to think about that one.

[schurem]

The A-7 Corsair II or SLUF has a very efficient turbofan engine. It also has a good fuel fraction, giving it long legs and endurance compared to the other two. It also is small, built tough and nimble.

The Jaguar is built for low level work. Its fast and accurate, with a high wing loading giving great ride at low level in gusty air. It's also fairly fragile compared to the others and has rather more thirsty engines. It does have two of them tough.

The Su-17 or -22 is the largest of the three. It also has low wing loading and a thirsty turbojet engine. Its built like a brick house and flies like one. It does carry a good deal of fuel, but needs lots of it as well, due to its engine type.

All three aircraft carry fairly sophisticated avionics. Nav/attack systems and bombing computers are found in all of them. If the mission is interdiction, i'd prefer the suchoi, but if its CAS, i'd prefer the A-7. imo the jaguar loses out for being lightly built and lacking internal fuel for battlefield persistence.

[HAWX ace]

These three planes entered service around the same time and filled similar roles, and are still being flown today (although Greece may have retired theirs or will soon).

You need to take into account that not all version of these planes were the same, as such there are many differences in performance even when the same type is compared. For exampled A-7H (=Hellas) which we bought in the seventies where state of the art at the time, virtually uninderceptable when flown properly. Still they were vastly inferior when compared with US Navy's A-7Es which we were donated as a gift for our participation in the first Gulf War.

What are the advantages each plane had over the other, beginning with the first five years of service and how upgrades have proceeded over time.

The A-7 is very usefull for us not only as an excellent bomber, but as an air tanker as well, being able to refuel M2K-5s, dramatically extending their SCALP-EG reach.
Where the other two ever certified to this role? I don't know.

[HAWX ace]

At that time-scale it was an issue. To survive manpads and SAMs in a single pass mission even you have to stay as close as possible to 600 kt. Every turn or jinxing eats into that desired speed in a noticeable way.

That's in theory. In reality, for a MANPADS user to get an A-7 flying low, he has to know beforehand where the A-7 will come from, the exact time when it will come, and the direction it will follow. Even then, there is still no guarantee of a successfull hit for the poor fella.

[Sens]

That's in theory. In reality, for a MANPADS user to get an A-7 flying low, he has to know beforehand where the A-7 will come from, the exact time when it will come, and the direction it will follow. Even then, there is still no guarantee of a successfull hit for the poor fella.

Till the 80s most MANPADS were limited to tail-chase engagements only, what changed from the Stinger and later Strelas which allowed head-on engagements. In an army that were operated like all the other AD-assets to protect a given object or area. The USMC is a good example how most of the AD-work is done by the Stinger and how it is operated.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1st_Stinger_Battery
http://www.globalsecurity.org/milita.../44-18/Ch3.htm
Here is the example how MANPADs were operated in a regular army.

[Sens]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9K38_Igla

Maximum target speed approaching is up to 320 m/sec under optimum conditions or up to 622 kt at s.l.
When the 600kt is ~310 m/sec.

[HAWX ace]

Till the 80s most MANPADS were limited to tail-chase engagements only, what changed from the Stinger and later Strelas which allowed head-on engagements. In an army that were operated like all the other AD-assets to protect a given object or area. The USMC is a good example how most of the AD-work is done by the Stinger and how it is operated.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1st_Stinger_Battery
http://www.globalsecurity.org/milita.../44-18/Ch3.htm
Here is the example how MANPADs were operated in a regular army.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9K38_Igla

Maximum target speed approaching is up to 320 m/sec under optimum conditions or up to 622 kt at s.l.
When the 600kt is ~310 m/sec.

That's nice, but how does that constitute an answer to my post? I think you are answering to a different thing rather than what I posted.

To make it easier for you, forget low tech outdated MANPADS. Think of short range advanced radar guided SAMs. My argument applies equally. There have been recorded incidents during excersises that users of multiple VELOS batteries suffered heavy defeat by A-7s, even though they were aware of the excersise scenario and knew where to expect them and at what time. Now imagine what would happen with a less capable, less sophisticated MANPADS, even latest generation.

When you are on the ground, with limited time window and your opponent has the element of surprise, scoring an antiaircraft hit is pure luck. Your missile's manufacturer's exceptional abilities brochure won't save you.