Further research show the Aéronavale wanted the J52 because it was less thirsty than the Atar 8K50. Seems to have been unrelated to their interest for the A-4.
Vought really missed a great opportunity there. It just dawned on me... at the same period (1968-73) Vought and Dassault were locked into a knife fight - Mirage Milan vs A-7 for the Swiss air force. Which ultimately screwed both and picked refurbished Hawker Hunters from Great Britain (sic !).
The way Dassault played its political cards back then, you can be sure the Swiss competition was used to put the French Navy under pressure by the French Governement.
Basically
Dassault: "You can't pick Vought A-7 for the Navy ! That very same aircraft is pissing me in Switzerland..."
What is troubling is that the A-7s were to be build by Aérospatiale in Toulouse. Same thing: SNIAS-Aérospatiale had an acrimonious relationship with both French government and Dassault, because they had been brutally kicked out of combat aircraft by De Gaulle and Messmer circa 1965. Up to a point where Aérospatiale supporters inside the Armée de l'Air were sacked or told to shut up.
Circa 1965 Aérospatiale had made a last-ditch atempt proposing a Super Vautour to Israel (it lost) licence-build T-38 / F-5s for ECAT (they were rejected).
By the early 70's they tried again with this A-7 proposal. Also early Alphajet studies (they lost this one, too).
I feel something very ugly went on between
- Dassault and French Governement on one side
- Vought, Aérospatiale and the French Navy on the other.
An example of "Dassault vs US combat aircraft" debate going very ugly is the case of Paul Stehlin & Northrop.
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Stehlin
