A historical report by joshwagstaff13 on the A-4E (and A-4F) and a picture of the TA-4E carrying 4x AIM-9s is far more than enough proof that it CAN carry 4x AIM-9s, and by extension the A-4M should as well. This is objectively the truth.
So the Israeli A-4E(s) having the Sidewinders mounted on the outer-wing station(s) somehow isn’t a direct indication that the station could be fitted for Sidewinders on the A-4E?
The yet US A-4E can only take them on the Inner-wing Station do you not find that odd considering that they are the same airframes (Operation Nickel Grass)?
And implying that there were massive structural changes between the A-4E/F & G models is laughable.
The report in question
What’s also interesting is that every SAC for every A-4 says that the Sidewinder is carried on the inboard ing pylon, but every picture of a Sidewinder attached to a US A-4 is mounted on the outboard wing pylon, even on the older models like the A-4B
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As Josh put it the reasoning is as follows.
The LAU-7/A Launcher is attached to the Aero 20A-1 ejector rack by means of of a Missile launcher adapter.
As per Note “B” on page #10 [PDF #12] of the A-4E SAC All wing stations use the Aero -20 Wing Rack Pylon
The ADU-229/E Missile Launcher Adapter is used to adapt the LAU-7/A Guided Missile Launcher to the Aero -20-1 Ejector Rack
Four electrically triggered cartridge actuated. Aero -20-1 Ejector Racks may be suspended from left and right hand wing stations.
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TA-4E? I think you’re referring to the 4F, only two TA-4Es were ever built and from what I’ve read have never even been armed.
Regarding 4 AIM-9 capabilities, the later A-4E/F did carry those, so it’s quite useless to repurpose the current squadron A-4 and instead just make a new tech tree A-4F (even tho the “early” model we have looks more like the mid life one but k lmao)
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Yeah, honestly I want the squadron A-4E to remain at 8.7. If Gaijin ever introduces separate BRs for Ground and Air battles then it should definitely move up in Ground battles.
A US A-4E should have never been a squadron vehicle, but I guess it leaves room for other US A-4 variants to go in the main tech tree
I mean, they call it the “early”, I just hope that they have an actual reason for it
It’s actually part of the designation and refers to if the Navigation set out of the A-4C was fitted or the revised variant.
Yes, the TA-4E can carry them, not A-4Es.
@tripod2008
That could be an issue with A-4E early being incorrect, or the wiring not transferred to outer pylons, which are more simple explanations.
With that said, as @Bonrath suggested, they could just add an A-4F, or something else that’s confirmed to have 4x AAM capabilities.
@_TheCrimsonKing
It would stay at 8.7 for ground battles cause it’s not as good as people think.
CCIP with bombs on a similar platform [SAAB-105G] is just as good.
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As the A-4E has access to the Walleye it should be able to carry the AIM-9D / 4x Sidewinder as they were both refitted to all A-4E/F as of April 1st, 1970.
Sure it may be further limited to only a pair at a time but they would be available for the outer wing station, which would free up the inner wing station for more ordnance as it has a higher loading limit.
Also another ordnance option for the A-4 would be the GPU-2/A (M197 20mm USAF cannon, w/ 300 rounds )
Aim-9Ds don’t matter BTW since the specific Aim-9 isn’t needed on aircraft.
And the A-4 we have in WT is early - late 1960s at the latest.
Well it has Walleye, which entered service in 1967, so are you sure about that?
Meant to include mid/late as well, but reflexes betrayed me.
Its still an option that is worth recognizing as it can be used to avoid needing to reduce its BR, should it be required due to poor stats or compression issues.
Though as the AIM-9D is still limited by its caged seeker dogfight usability gains are limited. and realistically if the -9B is not going to hit the -9D probably won’t either as the difference isn’t that big.
The excerpts in the bug report lists two dates February 26th, 1968 for mounting provisions to carry the Walleye, though is listed as a routinemaintenance change so would have occurred with the next 500hr maintenance cycle.
The other Walleye related(installation of the Video monitor provisions) date is April 1st, 1970 (the same as the Sidewinder changes) and is listed as Urgent so all aircraft would have received it ASAP as time & availability requirements permitted.
it’s also worth noting that they specifically mention that only the Centerline and inboard wing station(s) were modified for carriage. Unlike the Sidewinder related changes.
Lmfao did you really just say the A-4E is “not that good” at 8.7 in Ground RB???
Walleyes are the most free of kills, and on top of that you can take 3 Bullpups which are still good.
They can EASILY outrange 8.0-8.7 SPAA
No, you posted that, just now.
CCIP works out to 4km.
In what universe is the Saab 105G just as good as the A-4E?
I’ve seen plenty of Saab 105Gs recently, as I’m grinding France 8.7-9.3 rn, and Sweden 8.7 has a strong lineup… I can 100% guarantee you they’re not as effective as A-4Es. Not even close, because A-4Es have 2 free kills in the form of Walleyes on top of everything else they can take.
A-4Es have a vast range of weaponry. They can take Bullpups aswell. Or, if you prefer, take 9Bs for air defense.
Literally NO other plane in the game has guided bombs at 8.7.
Not even mentioning that the Skyhawks have RWR and countermeasures.
Nothing comes close to a Skyhawk when it comes to CAS at 8.7.
A good A-4E player will do 2 minutes of prep, which means climbing to 6KM in order to make your 2 required dives not have you enter SPAA range.
SAAB-105 only needs to climb to 4km as you don’t need to dive as much with dumb bombs in order to be safe from SPAA.
G91R3 with 4x AS20s at 8.7.
Scimitar with 4x Bullpups at 8.7.
China: Q-5A at 9.0 with CCIP ordnance.
Italy: G91R4, tho limited to premium.
France: Etendard, 2x AS-30s.
Sweden obviously has SAAB-105G.
Guided bombs are neat, but they’re obstructed by smoke, trees, and buildings.
Sometimes they lock the ground instead of the tank.
And countermeasures don’t matter at 8.7 last I played.
BTW, A32A is superior in ground battles than Skyhawks cause it can climb faster, drop 3 half-ton bombs on peoples’ heads, and also has chaff for when that works again.
That’s crazy because all of this is denied by the fact that the A-4E can take 5x Bullpups
Also, while MANPADS are hard to flare, they can still be flared (and more importantly, pre-flared). So yeah they are very much useful. And chaff is also useful to break the radar lock.
Edit 2: None of the aircraft you listed have the RWR/CM combo except for the Q-5A.
AS-20s suck btw, you really have to be very accurate for those to kill, unless it’s a light target.
And none of those planes have the range of weapons the A-4E has.
You’re doing some serious mental gymnastics here buddy