Douglas A-4 Skyhawk - Variants

Variants

A-4B in the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum U.S. Navy A-4B (A4D-2)

Prototypes

• XA4D-1: Prototype
• YA4D-1 (YA-4A, later A-4A): Flight test prototypes and pre-production aircraft.

A-4A

• A4D-1 (A-4A): Initial production version, 166 built

A-4B

• A4D-2 (A-4B): Strengthened aircraft and added air-to-air refueling capabilities, improved navigation and flight control systems, provision for AGM-12 Bullpup missile, 542 built.
• A-4P: Remanufactured A-4Bs sold to Argentine Air Force known as A-4B by the Argentines.
• A-4Q: Remanufactured A-4Bs sold to Argentine Navy.
• A-4S: 50 A-4Bs remanufactured for Republic of Singapore Air Force.
• TA-4S: seven trainer versions of the above. Different from most TA-4 trainers with a common cockpit for the student and instructor pilot, these were essentially rebuilt with a 28 in (710 mm) fuselage plug inserted into the front fuselage and a separate bulged cockpit (giving better all round visibility) for the instructor seated behind the student pilot.
• TA-4S-1: eight trainer versions of the above. These were designated as TA-4S-1 to set it apart from the earlier batch of seven airframes.
• A4D-3: Proposed advanced avionics version, none built.

A-4C

• A4D-2N (A-4C): Night/adverse weather version of A4D-2, with AN/APG-53A radar, autopilot, LABS low-altitude bombing system. Wright J65-W-20 engine with 8,200 lbf (36 kN) of takeoff thrust, 638 built.
• A-4L: 100 A-4Cs remanufactured for Marine Corps Reserves and Navy Reserve squadrons. Fitted with A-4F avionics (including the fuselage "hump") but retaining J-65 engine and three-pylon wing.
• A-4S-1: 50 A-4Cs remanufactured for Republic of Singapore Air Force.
• ST Aerospace A-4SU Super Skyhawk: extensively modified and updated version of the A-4S, exclusively for the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), fitted with a General Electric F404 non-afterburning turbofan engine, and modernized electronics.
• TA-4SU Super Skyhawk: extensively modified and updated version of the TA-4S & TA-4S-1 to TA-4SU standard.
• A-4PTM: 40 A-4Cs and A-4Ls refurbished for Royal Malaysian Air Force, incorporating many A-4M features (PTM stands for Peculiar to Malaysia).
• TA-4PTM: Unique trainer version for Royal Malaysian Air Force. Converted from A-4C/L airframes with 28" fuselage plug and second cockpit, similar to TA-4F/J (PTM stands for Peculiar to Malaysia).
• A4D-4: Long-range version with new wings cancelled; A-4D designation skipped to prevent confusion with A4D

A-4E

• A4D-5 (A-4E): Major upgrade, including new Pratt & Whitney J52-P-6A engine with 8,400 lbf (37 kN)) of thrust, strengthened airframe with two more weapon pylons (for a total of five), improved avionics, with TACAN, Doppler navigation radar, radar altimeter, toss-bombing computer, and AJB-3A low-altitude bombing system. Many later upgraded with J52-P-8 engine with 9,300 lbf (41 kN) thrust; 499 built.
• TA-4E: two A-4Es modified as prototypes of a trainer version.
• A4D-6: Proposed version, none built.

A-4F

• A-4F: Refinement of A-4E with extra avionics housed in a hump on the fuselage spine (this feature later retrofitted to A-4Es and some A-4Cs) and more powerful J52-P-8A engine with 9,300 lbf (41 kN) of thrust, later upgraded in service to J52-P-408 with 11,200 lbf (50 kN), 147 built. Some served with Blue Angels acrobatic team from 1973 to 1986.
• TA-4F: Conversion trainer - standard A-4F with extra seat for an instructor, 241 built.
• OA-4M: 23 TA-4Fs modified for Forward Air Control duties for the USMC.
• EA-4F: four TA-4Fs converted for ECM training.
• TA-4J: Dedicated trainer version based on A-4F, but lacking weapons systems, and with down-rated engine, 277 built new, and most TA-4Fs were later converted to this configuration.
• A-4G: eight aircraft built new for the Royal Australian Navy with minor variations from the A-4F; in particular, they were not fitted with the avionics "hump". Subsequently, eight more A-4Fs were modified to this standard for the RAN. Significantly the A-4G were modified to carry four underwing Sidewinder AIM-9B missiles increasing their Fleet Defense capability.
• TA-4G: two trainer versions of the A-4G built new, and two more modified from TA-4Fs.
• A-4H: 90 aircraft for the Israeli Air Force based on the A-4F. Used 30 mm (1.18 in) DEFA cannon with 150 rpg in place of U.S. 20 mm (.79 in) guns. Later, some A-4Es later locally modified to this standard. Subsequently modified with extended jetpipes as protection against heat-seeking missiles.
• TA-4H: 25 trainer versions of the above. These remain in service, and are being refurbished with new avionics and systems for service till at least 2010.
• A-4K: 10 aircraft for Royal New Zealand Air Force. In the 1990s, these were upgraded under Project KAHU with new radar and avionics, provision for AGM-65 Maverick, AIM-9 Sidewinder, and GBU-16 Paveway II laser-guided bomb. The RNZAF also rebuilt an A-4C and 10 A-4Gs to A4K standard.
• TA-4K: four trainer versions of the above. A fifth was later assembled in NZ from spare parts.

A-4M Skyhawk II

• A-4M: Dedicated Marine version with improved avionics and more powerful J52-P-408a engine with 11,200 lbf (50 kN) thrust, enlarged cockpit, IFF system. Later fitted with Hughes AN/ASB-19 Angle Rate Bombing System (ARBS) with TV and laser spot tracker, 158 built.
• A-4N: 117 modified A-4Ms for the Israeli Air Force.
• A-4KU: 30 modified A-4Ms for the Kuwaiti Air Force. Brazil purchased 20 of these second-hand and redesignated them AF-1. Now used by the Brazilian Navy on carrier duty.
  • TA-4KU: three trainer versions of the above. Brazil purchased some of these second-hand and redesignated them AF-1A.
• A-4AR Fightinghawk: 36 A-4Ms refurbished for Argentina.
• OA-4AR: Refurbished two-seat training version for Argentina.
• A-4Y: Provisional designation for A-4Ms modified with the ARBS. Designation never adopted by the U.S. Navy or U.S. Marine Corps.