A-4 Skyhawk

The Skyhawk was conceived in the early 1950s by Douglas Aircraft's Ed Heinemann, responding to a U.S. Navy requirement for a jet-powered attack aircraft to supersede the piston-engined A-1 Skyraider. Heinemann prioritized minimizing the aircraft's size, weight, and complexity, resulting in a design that was half the Navy's specified weight. This compact design featured a short-span delta wing, dispensing with the need for folding mechanisms for carrier stowage. On 12 June 1952, the U.S. Navy issued a contract for the Skyhawk. The XA4D-1 prototype achieved its first flight on 22 June 1954, from Edwards Air Force Base, California. It later set a world speed record of 695.163 mph on 15 October 1955. Production continued until 1979, with 2,960 aircraft delivered, including 555 two-seat trainers.

The Skyhawk was of conventional post-World War II design, featuring a low-mounted delta wing and tricycle undercarriage. A single turbojet engine resided in the rear fuselage, fed by two air intakes on the fuselage sides, while the tail was of cruciform design, with the horizontal stabilizer mounted above the fuselage. The short-span delta wing design negated the need for wingtip folding, saving an estimated 200 pounds, and its spars were machined from a single forging that spanned across both wingtips. Leading edge slats were designed to drop automatically at the appropriate speed by gravity and air pressure, saving weight and space by omitting actuation motors and switches. The rudder was constructed of a single panel reinforced with external ribs.

Armament initially comprised two 20 mm Colt Mark 12 cannons, one in each wing root, typically with 100 rounds per gun; types based on the A-4M had 200 rounds per gun. Some export versions could replace these with 30 mm DEFA cannons. The Skyhawk’s five hardpoints, consisting of one under the fuselage centerline and four under the wings, enable it to carry a wide assortment of missiles, bombs, rockets, and other munitions. Its maximum payload capacity is 8,500 lb (3,900 kg). Specific air-to-air weapons include the AIM-9 Sidewinder missile. For air-to-surface missions, it can carry the AGM-12 Bullpup, AGM-45 Shrike anti-radiation missile, AGM-62 Walleye TV-guided glide bomb, and AGM-65 Maverick missiles. For ground attack it can be equipped with Rockeye-II Mark 20 Cluster Bomb Units (CBU), Rockeye Mark 7/APAM-59 CBUs, and Mark 80 series of unguided bombs. Nuclear ordnance includes the B43, B57, and B61 nuclear bombs. It is also capable of carrying up to three 370 US gallon (1,400 L) Sargent Fletcher drop tanks to extend its range and loitering time.

The Skyhawk saw active combat on several occasions, serving in numerous air forces across the globe. The U.S. Navy operated the type as its principal light attack aircraft during the Vietnam War, carrying out some of the first air strikes by the U.S. during the conflict. The Skyhawk was also the Israeli Air Force's main ground attack aircraft during both the War of Attrition and the Yom Kippur War. During the Falklands War, Argentine Air Force Skyhawks bombed Royal Navy vessels, sinking the Type 42 destroyer Coventry and the Type 21 frigate Ardent. Elsewhere, Indonesian Air Force Skyhawks were used for counter-insurgency strikes in East Timor, while Kuwaiti Air Force Skyhawks saw action during Operation Desert Storm. In 2022, nearly seven decades after the aircraft's first flight in 1954, a number of Skyhawks remain in service with the Argentine Air Force and the Brazilian Naval Aviation.

Main Variants:

• A-4A: The initial production version of the Skyhawk.

• A-4B: An upgraded version with strengthened airframe and air-to-air refueling capabilities.

• A-4C: A night/adverse weather version, equipped with AN/APG-53A radar and a low-altitude bombing system.

• A-4E: A major upgrade featuring a new Pratt & Whitney engine, strengthened airframe with additional weapon pylons, and improved avionics.

• A-4M Skyhawk II: A dedicated Marine version with improved avionics and a more powerful engine.