Difference between revisions of "A-4E (Israel)"

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|code=a_4e_late_iaf
 
|code=a_4e_late_iaf
 
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|StoreImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
 
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|StoreImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
−
|store=10591
 
 
}}
 
}}
  
 
== Description ==
 
== Description ==
 
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of and the creation and combat usage of the aircraft, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the aircraft in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' -->
 
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of and the creation and combat usage of the aircraft, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the aircraft in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' -->
−
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a premium gift rank {{Specs|rank}} Israeli strike aircraft {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced as a [[wt:en/news/7383-development-israel-a-new-gaming-nation-coming-to-war-thunder-en|premium pack]] in [[Update "Ground Breaking"]].
+
The A-4E was a major upgrade in the A-4 family. It improved avionics, navigation equipment, fitted a more powerful engine and even gave the aircraft the capability to carry more ordnance with the introduction of a total of six pylons. Israel were the largest export customer of the A-4, including 46 A-4Es supplied by the USA as replacements for lost [[Ayit]]s during the Yom Kippur War. The A-4s were upgraded on several occasions, and were finally retired from Israeli frontline duty in 2008 and from training purposes in 2015.
 +
 
 +
Introduced as a [[wt:en/news/7383-development-israel-a-new-gaming-nation-coming-to-war-thunder-en|premium pack]] in [[Update "Ground Breaking"]], the A-4E excels as a very multipurpose fighter. It has the speed and armament to be employed as a fighter but it also has enough ground ordnance to be useful in ground combat. Thanks to its excellent amount of bombs, rockets, and guided munitions, it can be used to destroy up to 2 full bases in air RB and score several kills with the AGM-62A guided bombs. Featuring the AIM-9B at its BR is nothing uncommon, but it makes the plane very dangerous for slow moving targets trapped in dogfights, since most planes that face the A-4E are not equipped with flares. Since the A-4E bleeds energy very fast, the 60 countermeasures it carries are very useful to evade missiles without having to dodge and lose energy like most fighters at the battle rating.
 +
 
 +
It was removed from the Gaijin store at the end of the [[wt:en/news/8225-shop-may-sale-in-the-gaijin-store-en|2023 May Sale]]. It was briefly made available for purchase with Golden Eagles {{GE}} for the [[wt:en/news/8354-special-the-israeli-a-4e-is-back-for-the-anniversary-of-its-maiden-flight-en|2023 "A-4E Maiden Flight Anniversary"]].
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
Line 31: Line 34:
 
|-
 
|-
 
! Stock
 
! Stock
−
| ___ || ___ || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || __._ || __._ || __._ || __._ || rowspan="2" | 900
+
| 1,067 || 1,058 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 37.9 || 39.1 || 26.7 || 26.1 || rowspan="2" | 900
 
|-
 
|-
 
! Upgraded
 
! Upgraded
Line 60: Line 63:
 
! Combat !! Take-off !! Landing !! + !! -
 
! Combat !! Take-off !! Landing !! + !! -
 
|-
 
|-
−
| {{Specs|destruction|body}} || {{Specs|destruction|gear}} || 592 || 562 || 410 || ~8 || ~3
+
| 1,167 <!-- {{Specs|destruction|body}} --> || {{Specs|destruction|gear}} || 592 || 562 || 410 || ~8 || ~3
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
Line 135: Line 138:
 
The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' is armed with:
 
The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' is armed with:
  
−
* A choice between two presets:
+
* 2 x 30 mm DEFA 553 cannons, belly-mounted (150 rpg = 300 total)
−
** 2 x 30 mm DEFA 553 cannons, belly-mounted (150 rpg = 300 total)
+
* 60 x countermeasures
−
** 2 x 30 mm DEFA 553 cannons + 60 x countermeasures
 
  
 
=== Suspended armament ===
 
=== Suspended armament ===
 
{{Specs-Avia-Suspended}}
 
{{Specs-Avia-Suspended}}
 
<!-- ''Describe the aircraft's suspended armament: additional cannons under the wings, bombs, rockets and torpedoes. This section is especially important for bombers and attackers. If there is no suspended weaponry remove this subsection.'' -->
 
<!-- ''Describe the aircraft's suspended armament: additional cannons under the wings, bombs, rockets and torpedoes. This section is especially important for bombers and attackers. If there is no suspended weaponry remove this subsection.'' -->
−
{{main|LDGP Mk 81 (250 lb)|LDGP Mk 82 (500 lb)|M117 cone 45 (750 lb)|LDGP Mk 83 (1,000 lb)|LDGP Mk 84 (2,000 lb)}}
 
−
{{main|AGM-62A Walleye I ER (510 kg)|GBU-8 (2,000 lb)|AIM-9B Sidewinder}}
 
−
{{main|FFAR Mighty Mouse|Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP|Mk 11 mod 5 (20 mm)}}
 
  
 
The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' can be outfitted with the following ordnance:
 
The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' can be outfitted with the following ordnance:
  
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 +
|-
 +
! !! width="9%" | 1 !! width="9%" | 2 !! width="9%" | 3 !! width="9%" | 4 !! width="9%" | 5
 +
| rowspan="15" width="30%" | <div class="ttx-image">[[File:Hardpoints_A-4E_Early.png]]</div>
 +
|-
 +
! [[Mk 11 mod 5 (20 mm)|20 mm Mk 11 mod 5]] cannons (750 rpg)
 +
| || 1 || 1 || 1 ||
 +
|-
 +
! [[LDGP Mk 81 (250 lb)|250 lb LDGP Mk 81]] bombs
 +
| 1 || 6 || 6 || 6 || 1
 +
|-
 +
! [[Mk 81 Snakeye (250 lb)|250 lb Mk 81 Snakeye]] bombs
 +
| 1 || 6 || 6 || 6 || 1
 +
|-
 +
! [[LDGP Mk 82 (500 lb)|500 lb LDGP Mk 82]] bombs
 +
| 1 || 3 || 6 || 3 || 1
 +
|-
 +
! [[Mk 82 Snakeye (500 lb)|500 lb Mk 82 Snakeye]] bombs
 +
| 1 || 3 || 6 || 3 || 1
 +
|-
 +
! [[AGM-62A Walleye I ER (510 kg)|510 kg AGM-62A Walleye I ER]] bombs
 +
| || 1 || || 1 ||
 +
|-
 +
! [[M117 cone 45 (750 lb)|750 lb M117 cone 45]] bombs
 +
| || 1 || 1 || 1 ||
 +
|-
 +
! [[LDGP Mk 83 (1,000 lb)|1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83]] bombs
 +
| || 1 || 3 || 1 ||
 +
|-
 +
! [[GBU-8 (2,000 lb)|2,000 lb GBU-8]] bombs
 +
| || || 1 || ||
 +
|-
 +
! [[LDGP Mk 84 (2,000 lb)|2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84]] bombs
 +
| || || 1 || ||
 +
|-
 +
! [[Mk 77 mod 4 incendiary]] bombs
 +
| 1 || 2 || 3 || 2 || 1
 +
|-
 +
! [[FFAR Mighty Mouse]] rockets
 +
| 19 || 38 || 57 || 38 || 19
 +
|-
 +
! [[Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP]] rockets
 +
| 4 || 8 || 12 || 8 || 4
 +
|-
 +
! [[AIM-9B Sidewinder]] missiles
 +
| 1 || || || || 1
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
 +
{{Navigation-Start|Default weapon presets}}
 +
{{Navigation-First-Simple-Line}}
 
* Without load
 
* Without load
−
* 3 x 20 mm Mk 11 mod 5 cannons (750 rpg = 2,250 total)
+
* 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles
 +
* 171 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets
 +
* 36 x Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets
 
* 20 x 250 lb LDGP Mk 81 bombs (5,000 lb total)
 
* 20 x 250 lb LDGP Mk 81 bombs (5,000 lb total)
 
* 14 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs (7,000 lb total)
 
* 14 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs (7,000 lb total)
 +
* 20 x 250 lb Mk 81 Snakeye bombs (5,000 lb total)
 +
* 14 x 500 lb Mk 82 Snakeye bombs (7,000 lb total)
 
* 3 x 750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs (2,250 lb total)
 
* 3 x 750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs (2,250 lb total)
−
* 1 x 750 lb M117 cone 45 bomb + 114 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets (750 lb total)
 
−
* 1 x 750 lb M117 cone 45 bomb + 24 x Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets (750 lb total)
 
−
* 3 x 750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs + 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles (2,250 lb total)
 
 
* 5 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs (5,000 lb total)
 
* 5 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs (5,000 lb total)
 
* 1 x 2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 bomb (2,000 lb total)
 
* 1 x 2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 bomb (2,000 lb total)
−
* 171 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets
+
* 9 x Mk 77 mod 4 incendiary bombs
−
* 36 x Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets
 
−
* 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles
 
−
* 114 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets + 6 x 250 lb LDGP Mk 81 bombs (1,500 lb total)
 
−
* 114 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets + 6 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs (3,000 lb total)
 
−
* 24 x Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets + 6 x 250 lb LDGP Mk 81 bombs (1,500 lb total)
 
−
* 24 x Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets + 6 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs (3,000 lb total)
 
−
* 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles + 18 x 250 lb LDGP Mk 81 bombs (4,500 lb total)
 
−
* 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles + 12 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs (6,000 lb total)
 
−
* 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles + 3 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs (3,000 lb total)
 
−
* 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles + 1 x 2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 bomb (2,000 lb total)
 
−
* 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles + 133 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets
 
−
* 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles + 28 x Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets
 
−
* 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles + 1 x 20 mm Mk 11 mod 5 cannon (750 rpg)
 
 
* 2 x 510 kg AGM-62A Walleye I ER bombs (1,020 kg total)
 
* 2 x 510 kg AGM-62A Walleye I ER bombs (1,020 kg total)
−
* 2 x 510 kg AGM-62A Walleye I ER bombs + 6 x 250 lb LDGP Mk 81 bombs (3,749 lb total)
 
−
* 2 x 510 kg AGM-62A Walleye I ER bombs + 6 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs (5,249 lb total)
 
−
* 2 x 510 kg AGM-62A Walleye I ER bombs + 1 x 750 lb M117 cone 45 bomb (2,999 lb total)
 
−
* 2 x 510 kg AGM-62A Walleye I ER bombs + 3 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs (5,249 lb total)
 
−
* 2 x 510 kg AGM-62A Walleye I ER bombs + 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles + 6 x 250 lb LDGP Mk 81 bombs (3,749 lb total)
 
−
* 2 x 510 kg AGM-62A Walleye I ER bombs + 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles + 6 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs (5,249 lb total)
 
−
* 2 x 510 kg AGM-62A Walleye I ER bombs + 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles + 1 x 750 lb M117 cone 45 bomb (2,999 lb total)
 
−
* 2 x 510 kg AGM-62A Walleye I ER bombs + 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles + 3 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs (5,249 lb total)
 
−
* 2 x 510 kg AGM-62A Walleye I ER bombs + 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles (1,020 kg total)
 
 
* 1 x 2,000 lb GBU-8 bomb (2,000 lb total)
 
* 1 x 2,000 lb GBU-8 bomb (2,000 lb total)
−
* 1 x 2,000 lb GBU-8 bomb + 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles (2,000 lb total)
+
* 3 x 20 mm Mk 11 mod 5 cannons (750 rpg = 2,250 total)
−
 
+
{{Navigation-End}}
−
The largest payload is the 14 x 500 lb bombs which if all dropped on one base will net 1.34 tons of TNT equivalent.
 
  
 
== Usage in battles ==
 
== Usage in battles ==
Line 208: Line 236:
  
 
* Payload is extremely high and well balanced allowing you to tailor your gameplay and loadout to the situation at hand
 
* Payload is extremely high and well balanced allowing you to tailor your gameplay and loadout to the situation at hand
−
* AGM-62A guide bomb allows a knowledgeable pilot to strike a target while miles away
+
* AGM-62A guided bomb allows a knowledgeable pilot to strike a target while miles away
 
* RWR, flares and chaff increase your survivability
 
* RWR, flares and chaff increase your survivability
 
* 30 mm DEFA have high accuracy, stopping power, and ammo count
 
* 30 mm DEFA have high accuracy, stopping power, and ammo count
Line 219: Line 247:
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
  
−
* In SB, the seating position is very low. without manual adjustment it will feel like you are sitting in a bath tub
+
* In SB, the seating position is very low. Without manual adjustment it will feel like you are sitting in a bath tub
 
* In SB, the rear visibility is not great
 
* In SB, the rear visibility is not great
−
* In SB, a pilot will have to constantly be at the controls due to the wild changes in pitch and lift the plane experiences
+
* In SB, the pilot will have to constantly be at the controls due to the wild changes in pitch and lift the plane experiences
 
* Turning requires a high angle of attack which bleeds airspeed extremely quickly
 
* Turning requires a high angle of attack which bleeds airspeed extremely quickly
−
* The plane performs worse in a sustained Rate Fight compared to its main adversaries
+
* The plane performs worse in a sustained rate fight compared to its main adversaries far outperforming the aircraft
 
* The plane has a tendency to rip its wings if forced to withstand 10 Gs or more for extended periods of time
 
* The plane has a tendency to rip its wings if forced to withstand 10 Gs or more for extended periods of time
  
Line 238: Line 266:
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
 
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' -->
 
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' -->
−
''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.''
+
 
 +
;Skins
 +
 
 +
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=a_4e_late_iaf Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
Line 244: Line 275:
 
* ''reference to the series of the aircraft;''
 
* ''reference to the series of the aircraft;''
 
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' -->
 
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' -->
−
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
 
  
−
* ''reference to the series of the aircraft;''
+
;Related development
−
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''
+
 
 +
* [[A-4 (Family)]]
  
 
== External links ==
 
== External links ==

Latest revision as of 19:12, 31 July 2024

Rank VI | Premium | Golden Eagles
Chinese A-5C Pack
This page is about the strike aircraft A-4E (Israel). For other versions, see A-4 (Family).
A-4E
a_4e_late_iaf.png
GarageImage A-4E (Israel).jpg
StoreImage A-4E (Israel).jpg
A-4E
Israel flag.png Israel
VI Rank
Battle rating:
AB RB SB
9.0 8.7 9.3
Class:
PREMIUM
Purchase:Bundle or Gift
Show in game

Description

The A-4E was a major upgrade in the A-4 family. It improved avionics, navigation equipment, fitted a more powerful engine and even gave the aircraft the capability to carry more ordnance with the introduction of a total of six pylons. Israel were the largest export customer of the A-4, including 46 A-4Es supplied by the USA as replacements for lost Ayits during the Yom Kippur War. The A-4s were upgraded on several occasions, and were finally retired from Israeli frontline duty in 2008 and from training purposes in 2015.

Introduced as a premium pack in Update "Ground Breaking", the A-4E excels as a very multipurpose fighter. It has the speed and armament to be employed as a fighter but it also has enough ground ordnance to be useful in ground combat. Thanks to its excellent amount of bombs, rockets, and guided munitions, it can be used to destroy up to 2 full bases in air RB and score several kills with the AGM-62A guided bombs. Featuring the AIM-9B at its BR is nothing uncommon, but it makes the plane very dangerous for slow moving targets trapped in dogfights, since most planes that face the A-4E are not equipped with flares. Since the A-4E bleeds energy very fast, the 60 countermeasures it carries are very useful to evade missiles without having to dodge and lose energy like most fighters at the battle rating.

It was removed from the Gaijin store at the end of the 2023 May Sale. It was briefly made available for purchase with Golden Eagles Ge icon.png for the 2023 "A-4E Maiden Flight Anniversary".

General info

Flight performance

Arrestor gear
Accelerates braking by grabbing the brake cable on the deck of the aircraft carrier
Air brakes
Allows you to dramatically reduce the flight speed by releasing special flaps
Drogue parachute
Reduces braking distance when landing on any runway
Max speed
at 0 m1 081 km/h
Turn time37 s
Max altitude12 500 m
EnginePratt & Whitney J52-P-8A
TypeJet
Cooling systemAir
Take-off weight11 t

The A-4E has a really decent speed for its BR but loses a great amount of energy at every turn. It accelerates modestly well and is able to reach up to Mach 1.14 in a dive without breaking the wings. Flaps are automatically deployed, so if you set the flaps to landing, it won't deploy them until is safe to do so. This only works if the flaps are not already deployed, if so, it won't retract flaps and you will break them if over speeds of 400+ km/h. The aircraft is capable of maintaining 8 Gs in a turn, but it will overload if a higher turn is made. It is very easy to break the wings pulling hard turns, either negative or positive Gs. With a full load of fuel and a heavy bomb loadout wings become way weaker: any slight turn in negative Gs will overload and break the wings.

Characteristics Max Speed
(km/h at 0 m - sea level) 		Max altitude
(metres) 		Turn time
(seconds) 		Rate of climb
(metres/second) 		Take-off run
(metres)
AB RB AB RB AB RB
Stock 1,067 1,058 12500 37.9 39.1 26.7 26.1 900
Upgraded 1,095 1,081 36.3 37.0 53.0 39.7

Details

Features
Combat flaps Take-off flaps Landing flaps Air brakes Arrestor gear Drogue chute
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Limits
Wings (km/h) Gear (km/h) Flaps (km/h) Max Static G
Combat Take-off Landing + -
1,167 437 592 562 410 ~8 ~3
Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons Rudder Elevators Radiator
< 450 < 700 < 490 N/A

Engine performance

Engine Aircraft mass
Engine name Number Basic mass Wing loading (full fuel)
Pratt & Whitney J52-P-8A 1 5,049 kg 311 kg/m2
Engine characteristics Mass with fuel (no weapons load) Max Takeoff
Weight
Weight (each) Type 11m fuel 20m fuel 30m fuel 39m fuel
950 kg Axial-flow turbojet 5,789 kg 6,292 kg 6,913 kg 7,517 kg 11,113 kg
Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB/SB) Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (100%)
Condition 100% WEP 11m fuel 20m fuel 30m fuel 39m fuel MTOW
Stationary 3,754 kgf N/A 0.65 0.60 0.54 0.50 0.34
Optimal 3,754 kgf
(0 km/h) 		N/A 0.65 0.60 0.54 0.50 0.34

Survivability and armour

Flares/Chaff
Aircraft countermeasures to distract IR and radar-guided missiles and also AA radar
Crew1 person
Speed of destruction
Structural0 km/h
Gear437 km/h

Examine the survivability of the aircraft. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured, etc. Describe the armour, if there is any, and also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.

Modifications and economy

Repair cost
AB2 059 Sl icon.png
RB5 949 Sl icon.png
SB6 646 Sl icon.png
Crew training10 000 Sl icon.png
Experts850 000 Sl icon.png
Aces2 400 Ge icon.png
Research Aces1 900 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
Talisman.png 2 × 110 / 340 / 600 % Sl icon.png
Talisman.png 2 × 220 / 220 / 220 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Flight performance Survivability Weaponry
Mods jet compressor.png
Compressor
Mods booster.png
New boosters
Mods aerodinamic wing.png
Wings repair
Mods jet engine.png
Engine
Mods aerodinamic fuse.png
Fuselage repair
Mods armor frame.png
Airframe
Mods g suit.png
G-suit
Mods armor cover.png
Cover
Mods ammo.png
aden_belt_pack
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods pilon bomb.png
Mk81
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods pilon block rocket.png
LAU-3/A
Mod arrow 1.png
Mods napalm fire bomb.png
MK 77
Mods weapon.png
aden_new_gun
Mods pilon bomb.png
Mk82
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods heli false thermal targets.png
Flares/Chaff
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods heli false thermal targets.png
Flares/Chaff
Mods gunpods.png
Gun pod Mk 4 Mod 0
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods pilon bomb.png
Mk83
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods pilon block rocket large.png
LAU-10/A
Mods air to air missile.png
AIM-9B
Mods ammo.png
Mk11_belt_pack
Mods pilon bomb.png
Mk84
Mods optical guided bomb.png
AGM-62A
Mod arrow right 0.png
Mods optical guided bomb.png
GBU-8

Armaments

Ballistic Computer
CCIP (Guns) CCIP (Rockets) CCIP (Bombs) CCRP (Bombs)
Icon RedXCross.png Icon RedXCross.png Icon RedXCross.png Icon GreenCheckmark.png

Offensive armament

Main article: DEFA 553 (30 mm)

The A-4E (Israel) is armed with:

  • 2 x 30 mm DEFA 553 cannons, belly-mounted (150 rpg = 300 total)
  • 60 x countermeasures

Suspended armament

The A-4E (Israel) can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

1 2 3 4 5
Hardpoints A-4E Early.png
20 mm Mk 11 mod 5 cannons (750 rpg) 1 1 1
250 lb LDGP Mk 81 bombs 1 6 6 6 1
250 lb Mk 81 Snakeye bombs 1 6 6 6 1
500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs 1 3 6 3 1
500 lb Mk 82 Snakeye bombs 1 3 6 3 1
510 kg AGM-62A Walleye I ER bombs 1 1
750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs 1 1 1
1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs 1 3 1
2,000 lb GBU-8 bombs 1
2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 bombs 1
Mk 77 mod 4 incendiary bombs 1 2 3 2 1
FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets 19 38 57 38 19
Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets 4 8 12 8 4
AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles 1 1
Default weapon presets
  • Without load
  • 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles
  • 171 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets
  • 36 x Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets
  • 20 x 250 lb LDGP Mk 81 bombs (5,000 lb total)
  • 14 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs (7,000 lb total)
  • 20 x 250 lb Mk 81 Snakeye bombs (5,000 lb total)
  • 14 x 500 lb Mk 82 Snakeye bombs (7,000 lb total)
  • 3 x 750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs (2,250 lb total)
  • 5 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs (5,000 lb total)
  • 1 x 2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 bomb (2,000 lb total)
  • 9 x Mk 77 mod 4 incendiary bombs
  • 2 x 510 kg AGM-62A Walleye I ER bombs (1,020 kg total)
  • 1 x 2,000 lb GBU-8 bomb (2,000 lb total)
  • 3 x 20 mm Mk 11 mod 5 cannons (750 rpg = 2,250 total)

Usage in battles

Simulator battles

Ground attack - With its large payload options and capability, the A-4E is very capable at ground attack or base bombing. The AGM-62A Walleye bombs have a tremendous advantage of stand-off bombing, while you only get roughly 2,000 lbs of explosives in the loadout, dropping from high altitudes (24+ km / 8,000+ ft) at a speed nearing Mach 0.8 can have the AGM-62A with some practice traveling beyond 8 km (5 mi) to a target. The 30 mm DEFA cannons are phenomenal in accuracy, ammo count, and stopping power. However, with the plane being nose heavy, your angle of attack is extremely high at low speeds, which can lead to slam into the ground when trying to strafe ground targets with guns.

Air combat - In a dogfight, the A-4E can hold its own if kept above 800 km/h IAS (500 mph). If you drop below this air speed, your angle of attack increases dramatically since the plane is nose heavy. Combined with the rather weak engine, this creates a situation of high drag low thrust, meaning you will not be able to recover your air speed during the engagement. The A-4E's wings will start to lose lift in a high G pull around 480 km/h IAS (300 mph). Therefore, your best bet is to avoid turnfighting at all costs.

This plane is an attacker and excels at it, with its ordnance. But only in extreme measures could the A-4E be flown as a fighter.

Trim-wise the A-4E is all over the place: it does not like to settle. You will find yourself from a 25-30% elevator trim at 400 km/h IAS (250 mph ) to a 5% trim at 800 km/h IAS (500 mph). At roughly 840-880 km/h IAS (525-550 mph), the plane becomes stable (meaning +1% or -1% trim). This can make newer pilots to the plane feel like they are overworking in this plane as it requires a very attentive pilot.

The goal in this plane is to attack ground and keep the 15-minute timer constantly going. You can do this by taking 2 Walleyes with you and destroying 2 tanks or pillboxes. You can also do this by loading 7,000 lbs of bombs and bombing a base, or by strapping on 171 mighty mouse rockets and strafing a ship. All these methods will net the same profit as in SB, more money is earned from passive income than from useful actions.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Payload is extremely high and well balanced allowing you to tailor your gameplay and loadout to the situation at hand
  • AGM-62A guided bomb allows a knowledgeable pilot to strike a target while miles away
  • RWR, flares and chaff increase your survivability
  • 30 mm DEFA have high accuracy, stopping power, and ammo count
  • Carrying 2 x AIM-9B air-to-air allows for some offensive behaviour
  • The plane carries enough payload to take out a full base or convoy in a single pass
  • Good roll rate
  • Fair acceleration (especially good at low speeds)
  • Very low stall speed

Cons:

  • In SB, the seating position is very low. Without manual adjustment it will feel like you are sitting in a bath tub
  • In SB, the rear visibility is not great
  • In SB, the pilot will have to constantly be at the controls due to the wild changes in pitch and lift the plane experiences
  • Turning requires a high angle of attack which bleeds airspeed extremely quickly
  • The plane performs worse in a sustained rate fight compared to its main adversaries far outperforming the aircraft
  • The plane has a tendency to rip its wings if forced to withstand 10 Gs or more for extended periods of time

History

Israel had been interested in purchasing American combat planes ever since its inception in 1948, but rocky relations with the US resulted in the Americans refusing the vast majority of proposals over several decades. 1965 saw the first approval of a major deal for American combat jets, in which Israel would (initially) receive 48 A-4H Skyhawks. Due to lingering American reluctance to sell high-end military equipment to Israel at the time, the A-4H was actually a stripped-down variant of the A-4F (itself an improvement of the A-4E), removing several key abilities from the aircraft: It had no ability to fire AAMs, had a downgraded bombing sight, and could only carry a limited variety of air-to-ground weaponry.

The Israeli Air Force named the aircraft Ayit (Eagle), and very quickly restored all of its missing functionalities - while also adding several new features that had never been present in any of the American models. It regained the ability to fire AAMs, and was now capable of firing heat-seeking AAMs - previously unavailable to any A-4 model. Israel also installed improved avionics, a French DEFA 30 mm twin autocannon (to replace the American Colt 20 mm), equipment for the launching of precision-guided munitions, and an extended jet pipe that decreased the aircraft's vulnerability to heat-seeking SAMs.

The A-4H Skyhawks quickly replaced the Dassault Mystère to become Israel's primary ground-attack aircraft during the late 1960s. Skyhawks participated heavily in the War of Attrition (1968-1970). One Ayit even managed to shoot down a Syrian MiG-17 using unguided rockets.

The impressive performance of the A-4H eventually led Israel to purchase a large number of them, including several dozen "classic" A-4Es that had previously served in the US Navy. These A-4Es quickly received upgrades to match the A-4Hs in performance. In total, Israel purchased over 250 Skyhawks, becoming the world's leading importer of the aircraft. A-4H Skyhawks continued on to serve in the 1973 Yom Kippur War, the 1982 Lebanon War, and in many later Israeli operations. During the 1970s they were gradually replaced by the F-4 Phantom II and later the F-16. While most of the A-4H Skyhawks were eventually sold to Indonesia, many others remained in service as training aircraft until 2015.

Media

Skins

See also

Related development

External links


Douglas Aircraft Company
Strike Aircraft  A-20G-25 · A-26B-10 · A-26B-50 · AD-2 · AD-4 · A-1H
Bombers  TBD-1 · B-18A · SBD-3 · BTD-1 · A-26C-45 · A-26C-45DT
Turboprops  A2D-1
Jet Aircraft  F3D-1 · F4D-1
A-4 Skyhawk  A-4B · A-4E Early
Export  ▄Havoc Mk I · ▄Boston Mk I · ▄DB-7 · ▂A-20G-30 · ▄AD-4 · ▄AD-4NA
A-4 Skyhawk  A-4H · A-4E Early (M) · Ayit · A-4E
  The Douglas Aircraft Company merged with McDonnell Aircraft Corporation in 1967 to form McDonnell Douglas.

Israel jet aircraft
  Kfir Canard · Kfir C.2 · Kfir C.7 · Nesher
Britain 
Meteor  Meteor NF.13 · Meteor F.8
France 
Vautour  Vautour IIA · Vautour IIN
Super Mystere  Sambad · Sa'ar
Mirage III  Shahak
Other  M.D.450B Ouragan · Mystere IVA
USA 
F-84  F-84F
A-4  A-4H · A-4E Early (M) · A-4E · Ayit
F-4  Kurnass · Kurnass 2000
F-15  Baz · Baz Meshupar
F-16  Netz · F-16C Barak II · F-16D Barak II

Israel premium aircraft
Weizman's Spitfire LF Mk.IXe · F-84F · A-4E · Kfir Canard

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