Douglas A-4E 'Late' Skyhawk - The Improved 'Dash Five'

Nostalgistic · May 30, 2026, 9:26pm

Would you like to see this in-game?

Yes
No

0 voters

Which engine variant would you like to see implemented on the A-4E (Late)?

8,500-lbf J52-P-6A turbojet (initial engine)
9,400-lbf J52-P-8A turbojet (upgraded engine)
Both. Start with the J52-P-6A and unlock the J52-P-8A as a modification.
I said “No” in the first poll.

0 voters

Douglas A-4E ‘Late’ Skyhawk

Hey everybody. I’d like to suggest a late-production model of the Douglas A-4E Skyhawk as a follow-up addition to the A-4E (Early) currently present in-game. The late-production A-4E differed visually and operationally through the addition of the avionics hump and the “cranked” in-flight refueling probe later associated with the A-4M. Depending on the airframe, it could either retain the original engine or receive the more powerful 9,300-lbf Pratt & Whitney J52-P-8A turbojet. Potentially, it could also receive access to the AIM-9D Sidewinder.

History

Development of the A4D-5, later redesignated the A-4E, began in February 1959 as a major follow-up improvement over the earlier A4D-2N (A-4C). The variant introduced a lighter and more efficient Pratt & Whitney J52-P-6A engine generating up to 8,500 pounds of thrust, along with a redesigned fuselage center section and revised air intake ducting. Airframe strength was increased, and two additional pylons were added, expanding the aircraft from three to five external hardpoints and significantly improving its ordnance-carrying capability.

The avionics suite was also modernized with upgraded navigation and bombing systems. To accommodate the AN/ASN-19A navigation computer, the nose section was lengthened by approximately fourteen inches compared to earlier Skyhawk variants.

On July 30, 1959, the US Navy ordered the conversion of two A4D-2N aircraft into the new A4D-5 configuration. Eventually, 498 aircraft would be produced. The first flight of the A4D-5 took place on July 12, 1961, and the aircraft officially became redesignated as the A-4E in September 1962 under the tri-service designation system.

The A-4E entered operational service with VA-23 at NAS Lemoore, California, in November 1962. In total, twenty-two squadrons would eventually operate the variant. Early-production A-4Es visually resembled the A-4C aside from the revised air intakes and extended nose. However, later operational modifications significantly changed the aircraft’s appearance and capability.

Many A-4Es were retrofitted with the distinctive dorsal avionics hump mounted between the rear of the canopy and the base of the vertical stabilizer. This compartment was introduced to provide additional space for defensive electronic warfare systems that could not fit within the compact original airframe. The hump commonly housed systems such as the ALQ-127 Defensive Electronic Countermeasures suite and the ALR-50 SAM alert and missile launch warning system.

During later service, many A-4Es also received the more powerful J52-P-8 engine, producing up to 9,300 pounds of thrust, improving overall performance. The original straight refueling probe was additionally replaced by the angled “cranked” probe as seen on the Skyhawk A-4M.

One A-4E, Bureau Number 152101, was converted into the prototype for the future Douglas A-4F Skyhawk variant, which standardized the avionics hump and incorporated many improvements that had gradually appeared during late A-4E production.

Following the Vietnam War, the A-4E gradually became surplus to US Navy requirements as newer A-4F and A-4M aircraft entered service. Surviving A-4Es were exported abroad to nations such as Israel and Indonesia, where they continued serving for many years afterward.

Specifications

Douglas A-4E ‘Late’ Skyhawk

General Characteristics

Crew: 1 (Pilot)

Dimensions:

Length: 40 ft 1.2 in (12.2 m)

Height: 15 ft (4.6 m)

Wingspan: 27 ft 6 in (8.4 m)

Wing Area: 260 sq ft (24.15 sq m)

Powerplant:

Type: 1 x Pratty & Whitney J52-P-6A turbojet

Power Output:

Military: 8,500 lbf (37.8 kN) @ 11,650 rpm

Normal: 7,500 lbf (33.4 kN) @ 11,400 rpm

Fuel/Oil:

Fuel Capacity: 800 US-gal (3,028 L)

Oil Capacity: 5 US-gal (18.9 L)

Weight:

Empty: 9,624 lb (4,457 kg)

Gross: 13,792 lb (6,256 kg)

Max. Takeoff: 24,500 lb (11,113 kg)

Flight Performance

Power-to-Weight Ratio: 0.62

Wing Loading: 53 lb/sq ft (259 kg/sq m)

Max Speed:

Sea Level: 585 kts (673 mph, 1,080 km/h)

At Altitude: 516 kts (594 mph, 956 km/h) @ 38,300 ft (11,674 m)

Stall:

Power-off: 96 kts (110 mph, 178 km/h)

Power-on: 91 kts (105 mph, 169 km/h)

Rate of Climb: 10,250 fpm (52.1 m/s)

Service Ceiling: 44,600 ft (13,594 m)

Armament

Avionics:

AN/APG-53A surface radar

AN/AJB-3A LABS computer

Guns:

2 x 20 mm Colt Mk 12 Mod 0 cannons (100 rpg; 200 rds)

Air-to-Air Missiles:

2 x AIM-9B/D Sidewinders

Air-to-Ground Missiles:

5 x AGM-12A/B Bullpups

2 x AGM-12C Bullpups

4 x AGM-45A Shrikes

Bombs:

Mk 80 Series General Purpose Bombs

750-lb M117 Bombs

Mk-77/-79 Fire Bombs

Mk Series Sea Mines

Rockets:

7-tubed LAU-32A/A for 2.75” (69.85 mm) FFARs

19-tubed LAU-3A/A for 2.75” (69.85 mm) FFARs

4-tubed LAU-10/A for 5” (127mm) Zuni rockets

Drop Tanks:

1 x 400 US-gal drop tank

3 x 300 US-gal drop tanks

3 x 150 US-gal drop tanks

Other:

AN/ALE-29A chaff/flare countermeasures dispenser

Related Suggestions

Sources

Standard Aircraft Characteristics A-4E Skyhawk (1 July 1967)
Squadron/Signal Publications Aircraft No. 11 - A-4 Skyhawk in Action (1973)
A-4 Skyhawk in Detail & Scale Vol. 32 (1989)
Douglas A-4 Skyhawk Attack and Close-Support Fighter Bomber (2005)
A-4 Skyhawk Production History | The Skyhawk Association
Douglas A4D-5/A-4E Skyhawk
Douglas A-4 Skyhawk - Wikipedia

Thank you for taking the time to read my suggestion! 😃

Shin_Kazama · May 30, 2026, 10:05pm

+1, should’ve been added to the US TT a long time ago (probably alongside the squad A-4E early, or at least slightly after)

dotSHINI · May 30, 2026, 10:28pm

i dont know why, but i have this feeling you might be a skyhawk fan