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
The A-4H Skyhawk is a rank VI Israeli strike aircraft with a battle rating of 8.7 (AB) and 8.3 (RB/SB). It was introduced in Update "Winged Lions".
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 presets:
- Without load
- 171 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets
- 36 x Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets
- 20 x 100/50 kg G.P. bombs (2,000 kg total)
- 14 x 250/50 kg G.P. bombs (3,500 kg total)
- 3 x 360/50 kg G.P. bombs (1,080 kg total)
- 3 x 500/50 kg G.P. bombs (1,500 kg total)
- 1 x 2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 bomb (2,000 lb total)
- 9 x Mk 77 mod 4 incendiary bombs
- 3 x 20 mm Mk 11 mod 5 cannons (750 rpg = 2,250 total)
Custom loadout options
| 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 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 weight: 2,710 kg Maximum permissible weight imbalance: 900 kg | ||||||
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
Operational History
Israel was the largest export customer for Skyhawks. The Skyhawk was the first U.S. warplane to be offered to the Israeli Air Force, marking the point where the U.S. took over from France as Israel's chief military supplier. Deliveries began after the Six-Day War, and A-4s soon formed the backbone of the IAF's ground-attack force. In IAF Service, the A-4 Skyhawk was named as the Ayit (Hebrew: עיט, for Eagle).
They cost only a quarter of what a Phantom II cost and carried half of its payload. Starting in 1966, Israel purchased 217 A-4s, plus another 46 that were transferred from U.S. units in Operation Nickel Grass to compensate for large losses during the Yom Kippur War.
An Israeli Air Force A-4F Skyhawk on display
In the late 1960s and 1970s, Israeli Air Force Skyhawks were the primary ground attack aircraft in the War of Attrition and the Yom Kippur War. Skyhawks carried out bombing missions in the Yom Kippur War, and a considerable proportion of the tactical sorties. ACIG.org claims that at least nine A-4 Skyhawks were downed by MiG-21s and MiG-17s during Yom Kippur war. Formal Israeli sources claim only five Israeli Air Force aircraft, of any type, were shot down in air-to-air duels.
In May 1970, an Israeli Skyhawk piloted by Col. Ezra Dotan shot down two MiG-17s over south Lebanon (one with unguided rockets, the other with 30 mm cannon fire) even though the Skyhawk's head-up display has no "air-to-air mode". However, up to three Skyhawks were downed by Egyptian MiG-21 fighters, plus two were downed by Soviet-piloted MiG-21s during the War of Attrition.
A special version of the A-4 was developed for the IAF, the A-4H. This was an A-4E which featured improved avionics and the improved thrust J52-P-8A engine. Armament consisted of twin DEFA 30 mm cannon in place of the Colt Mk.12 20 mm cannons. Later modifications included the avionics hump and an extended tailpipe, implemented in Israel by IAI. The extended tailpipe gave greater protection against heat-seeking surface-to-air missiles. A total of 90 A-4Hs were delivered, and were Heyl Ha'avir's (Israels Air Force) primary attack plane in the War of Attrition.
IAF A-4Hs awaiting disposal in 2009 following their retirement
In early 1973, the improved A-4N Skyhawk for Israel entered service, based on the A-4M models used by the U.S. Marine Corps. The different model Skyhawks carried out bombing missions in the Yom Kippur War, and a considerable proportion of the tactical sorties. They also attacked in Operation Peace for the Galilee, and one of them shot down a Syrian MiG-17.
The IAF also operated two-seat models, for operations as well as advanced training and retraining. The first training models arrived in 1967, with the first batch of Skyhawks. During the Yom Kippur war, the Skyhawk order of battle was reinforced with TA-4F and TA-4J models. The IAF selected in 2003 RADA Electronic Industries Ltd. to upgrade its A-4 trainer fleet with weapon delivery, navigation and training systems. Integration of a multifunction and Head-up Display produced an advanced Lead in fighter trainer for the IAF's future fighter pilots.[citation needed]
According to acig.org, Syria claimed that two Israeli A-4 Skyhawks were downed by Syrian MiG-23s over northern Lebanon on 26 April 1981. However, official Israeli Air Force statistics do not list any downing of Israeli warplanes since the Yom Kippur War, and no loss of aircraft was reported on that date.
During the 1982 Lebanon War an Israeli A-4 piloted by Aharon Achiaz was shot down over Lebanon by a SA-7 on 6 June 1982. Israel reported this was one of its only two fixed-wing aircraft shot down over the Beqaa Valley during air battles spanning from 6 June 1982 to 11 June 1982 where 150 aircraft took part, including the battle on 9 June 1982 known as Operation Mole Cricket 19.
In October 2008, it was decided due to maintenance issues that the A-4 Skyhawk fleet would be withdrawn and replaced by more modern aircraft, able to perform equally well in the training role and, if required, close support and interdiction missions on the battlefield. Some of Israel's A-4s were later exported to Indonesia. The Skyhawks have been replaced by F-16s in combat roles but are still used for pilot training. All the remaining A-4s aircraft were to be fully phased out beginning by 2014 as the IAF accepts delivery of Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Master jets. Skyhawks were last used in combat operations in the Israel airforce in 2012, when they dropped leaflets over Gaza in 2012.
In July 2013, Israel began a program called Teuza (boldness) for the purpose of turning some military bases into sales lots for obsolete IDF equipment. Older models that are not suited for Israel's modern high-tech forces will be sold off, or sold for scrap if there are no buyers. A-4 Skyhawk jets are among those being offered.
On 13 December 2015, all remaining Israeli A-4 Skyhawks were retired from service. The retirement ceremony took place at Hatzerim IDF base.
Media
- Skins
See also
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;
- links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.
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 |
| F-16 | Netz · Barak II |
