A-4H (Israel)
| This page is about the strike aircraft A-4H (Israel). For other versions, see A-4 (Family). |
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Contents
Description
In 1963, Israel proposed an idea to acquire US Navy surplus Skyhawks or have a special one made for Israel. At the time the proposal was rejected as an attempt for America to remain neutral but that changed three years later. The US planned to make a new variant for Israel called the A-4H. The A-4H was intended to be the regular A-4E but better suited for land-based operations. It was powered by the J52-P-8A, the same engine found in the humpback A-4Es. The A-4H would also be fitted with two 30 mm DEFA cannons rather than the standard armament of 20 mm cannons. Israel received around 90 A-4Hs until they were replaced by the vastly superior F-16 Fighting Falcon.
Introduced in Update "Winged Lions", the A-4H Skyhawk is an excellent aircraft for both air-to-air combat and ground striking. For air combat, the A-4H features a relatively light airframe and powerful J52-P-8A engine which provides a respectable thrust-to-weight ratio. The two 30 mm cannons are devastating to enemy aircraft as well as soft ground targets and some medium tanks. Unfortunately, the A-4H lacks any air-to-air missile, so players are relegated to only guns. As for ground striking, the A-4H has a multitude amount of ground ordnance options so players can make many unique loadouts. However, the A-4H lacks guided suspended weaponry.
General info
Flight performance
| 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 | 1,074 | 1,063 | 12500 | 34.7 | 35.9 | 40.8 | 40.3 | 1,000 |
| Upgraded | 1,102 | 1,087 | 33.6 | 34.0 | 70.2 | 55.0 | ||
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 | 4,749 kg | 299 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 | 5,489 kg | 5,992 kg | 6,613 kg | 7,217 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 | 0.68 | 0.63 | 0.57 | 0.52 | 0.34 |
| Optimal | 3,754 kgf (0 km/h) |
N/A | 0.68 | 0.63 | 0.57 | 0.52 | 0.34 |
Survivability and armour
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
| Flight performance | Survivability | Weaponry | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Armaments
Offensive armament
The A-4H (Israel) is armed with:
- 2 x 30 mm DEFA 552 cannons, belly-mounted (150 rpg = 300 total)
Suspended armament
The A-4H (Israel) can be outfitted with the following ordnance:
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |  | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 mm Mk 11 mod 5 cannons (750 rpg) | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||
| 100/50 kg G.P. bombs | 1 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 1 | |
| 250 lb SAMP Mk 81 bombs | 1 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 1 | |
| 250/50 kg G.P. bombs | 1 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 1 | |
| 360/50 kg G.P. bombs | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||
| 500 lb SAMP Mk 82 250 Snakeye bombs | 1 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 1 | |
| 500 lb SAMP Mk 82 bombs | 1 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 1 | |
| 500/50 kg G.P. bombs | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||
| 1,000 lb SAMP Mk 83 bombs | 1 | 3 | 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 | |
| Maximum permissible loadout weight: 3,720 kg Maximum permissible wing load: 1,860 kg | ||||||
| Default weapon presets | |
|---|---|
| |
Usage in battles
The A-4H is a versatile aircraft which fits into a wide range of playstyles. Varying from close air support (CAS) to base bomber or even as an air superiority fighter. Players who yield such a tool as the A-4H Skyhawk have a lot of options when it comes to playstyle choices.
Ground Realistic Battles (RB)
For those interested in its CAS abilities, it comes with a wide range of ordnance and a radar warning receiver (RWR). The best way to utilise the plane in this role is to use the ordnance to aid allied ground units in tight situations and clear a path for them to reach their respective objectives. RWR will help you by making you aware of any enemy or allied anti-air systems that choose to make you their prey.
Air Battles (AB/RB/SB)
For those interested in Air Battles, there are multiple ways you can make yourself an asset to the team. You can use your very respectable bomb and rocket payloads to help allies destroy enemy bases and ground units to bleed tickets.
The A-4H can also go in light as an air superiority fighter. The plane has a good rate of climb and roll rate, meaning you can employ hit and run tactics on your opponents, or go all-in and get personal with the enemy aircraft. The A-4's biggest opponents are the MiG-15/17 and G.91 R series. The A-4H is a very capable plane in the right hands but is hard to fly, especially against a proven aircraft such as the MiG-17. The poor energy retention can put you at a huge disadvantage against such opponents if you are not careful in managing your air speed. This means that you should only engage in tight and personal fights when you are sure you can finish them quickly and escape. For those who are newer, staying close to teammates and helping each other is generally a very effective tactic in the A-4H and generally yields the best chance for survival and success in the Skyhawk. For those more daring, flying solo is very possible but requires and higher level of awareness and tactical knowledge, the unforgiving nature of the plane depends on it.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Excellent acceleration and climb rate
- Good roll rate
- Good instantaneous turn rate
- Good variety of ground attack ordnance
- Twin 30 mm DEFA cannons will take down any enemy aircraft
- Can carry 3 x additional 20 mm Mk 11 cannons
- You can't deploy landing flaps if your flight speed is too high, avoiding accidental destruction
Cons:
- Wings rip easily in tight high speed manoeuvres
- Low ammo on main guns
- Poor energy retention
- Wing slats extend only at very low speeds
- No air-to-air missiles (AAMs)
- Only one fuel tank is self-sealing (the one in the fuselage)
- Carrying heavy payload significantly reduces flight performance
History
In the early 1960s, Israel was keen to purchase Skyhawks from the U.S. either from surplus inventory or new planes being built for sale specifically to Israel. At first, the U.S. rejected Israel's request for A-4s in an effort to remain neutral to the Arab world. However, a few years later, the U.S. changed its mind and allowed Israel to purchase Skyhawks. Israel sent out an order of 48 A-4H Skyhawks. The A-4H was an A-4E but with a better engine (J52-P-8A), modified vertical stabilizer with an IFF (AN/APX-46), a drag chute, and didn't have the "humpback" which housed avionics. The A-4Hs arrived in Israel in late 1967 and the Israelis replaced the 20-millimeter cannons with DEFA 30-millimeter cannons.
A-4Hs saw action very quickly after procurement in Jordan during the War of Attrition. Israel later increased the order to 90 A-4Hs. During the Yom Kippur War, Israel suffered heavy losses of their A-4Hs and acquired more A-4Es from the US Navy and Marines. In an effort to reduce losses, Israel extended the exhaust tailpipe to reduce losses from heat-seeking missiles by moving the detonation further away from the aircraft. Some A-4Hs also had their J52-P-8A engines replaced with the J-52-P-408N (same engine in the A-4N), which is an increase of over 750 kgf of thrust.
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-15I Ra’am |
| F-16 | Netz · F-16C Barak II · F-16D Barak II |
