Douglas TA-4J Skyhawk (Ayit), The Skyhawks keep coming and they don't stop coming

yoyolast · June 20, 2025, 12:42am

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Introduction

The Douglas TA-4J was one of two training model of the A-4 Skyhawk developed for the US Navy in the mid 60’s. It was designated as the less combat capable variant better configured for training and had most of the features found on the TA-4F combat version as merely provisional. As a very prolific user of the Skyhawk the Israeli Air Force acquired several examples of this variant where it had also served in the combat role.

A Douglas TA-4J in service with the US Navy advanced flight school.

History

The Douglas TA-4F and TA-4J were developed in the mid 1960’s in order to fill the need in the US Navy for an advanced tandem seat trainer. The TA-4J specifically was designed as the training configured version of the aircraft, retaining many of the avionics that were fully retained on the combat capable TA-4F variant as provisional only. The TA-4J first entered production in June of 1965.

Much like the TA-4F, the TA-4J had also seen some changes compared to the contemporary single seat A-4F variant. Namely, the TA-4J had a significantly lower fuel quantity, it lacked AN/ALE-29A countermeasure blocks and most likely most if not all of them lacked the IP-936/AXQ display used for operating TV guided weapons.

In this photo is TA-4J number 04, one of the first TA-4Js to enter service with the Israeli Air Force. It had arrived on the 11th of February 1973 and participated in active combat duty during the Yom Kippur War.

During the years leading up to the 1973 Yom Kippur War the Israeli Air Force sought to bolster it’s fleet of Skyhawks as French airframes were being withdrawn from service and the existing fleet of Skyhawks was being slowly weathered. After an initial contract that saw the acquisition of some 60 ex-US Navy A-4E Skyhawks and 4 ex-US Navy TA-4F Skyhawks the Israeli Air Force signed follow-up deals to acquire TA-4J Skyhawks over a time period of 3 years. The first TA-4J Skyhawks, numbers 01 and 02, arrived in Israel on the 30th of November 1972. prior to the Yom Kippur War the IAF saw the arrival of at least 4 additional TA-4Js (that I could confirm), numbers 04,05,06 and 08. All of the TA-4Js that have arrived prior to the Yom Kippur War received the 4XX prefix template. It is unknown exactly which of the avionics that were only provisional for the TA-4J variant were present on Israeli TA-4Js.

It is well documented via photos that Israeli TA-4Js did have access to all 5 hardpoints even though TA-4Js by default only had access to three with the other two being provisional. It is also known that much like the TA-4Fs and TA-4Hs, the TA-4Js never had their gun armament replaced with 30mm DEFA 553s, instead they retained the pair of 20mm Colt Mk.12s.

TA-4J being loaded with bombs for a combat sortie during the Yom Kippur War in October of 1973.

During the Yom Kippur War of 1973 all available Skyhawk airframes in the IAF were sent into combat including the 2 seater variants. The six TA-4Js that are known to have been present in IAF inventory at the time participated in strike missions without standout action.

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These photos show two of the Skyhawks (703 clearly seen in the front) that have arrived in Israel on the 24th of May 1974 as a part of a deal that saw the acquisition of three TA-4Js from the US Navy’s advanced flight school. These newly arrived Skyhawks were immediately modified to Israeli standards as can be seen by the addition of the extended tail pipe and break chute mechanism. Notably however the Skyhawks that arrived in this batch have retained their original US Navy advanced flight school paint scheme for a short period of time, with only the air force decals being replaced with Israeli ones.

Following the Yom Kippur War the TA-4Js were upgraded to Israeli Skyhawk standards. The received the elongated fiberglass tail pipe designed to divert the aircraft’s heat signature further back and received a break chute mechanism as already seen on the TA-4H variant. Additionally, although it isn’t confirmed exactly at which point this was applied, The TA-4Js were also eventually fitted with a pair of AN/ALE-29A countermeasure blocks just like the single seat Skyhawk variants in Israeli service. with the changing of the Skyhawk’s numbering system after the Yom Kippur War all of the TA-4Js received the 7XX prefix template which they retained until the end of their service. Additional airframes continued to arrive throughout 1974 and 1975. Notably the TA-4Js that were delivered in 1975 were a slight variation of the TA-4J unofficially called the TA-4J(H) in some circles. The TA-4J(H)s were newly constructed airframes purpose made for the Israeli Air Force that included the usual suite of Israeli Skyhawk modifications, and that included the modified vertical stabilizer design which the original TA-4J that have arrived prior did not have.

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This photo of TA-4J 701 showcases the modified tail section of the aircraft which after the Yom Kippur War included the extended tail pipe and a break chute. Note that the TA-4Js that have arrived prior to 1975 retained the original rounded vertical stabilizer design whereas the TA-4J(H)s that have arrived in 1975 had a squared design.

A bottom view of TA-4J number 06. This photo also showcases the modified tail section, but more importantly it also confirms the installation of AN/ALE-29A countermeasure blocks on these airframes as they can be seen just below the airbrake hinges.

During the remainder of their service the TA-4Js were used exclusively as trainers. Some of the airframes, such as number 04 (704 with the prefix) had their cannon armaments removed while others retained them. In 1994 The Israeli Air Force saw the delivery of some additional TA-4J airframes, however those were never put into service and spent all of their time in Israel in storage.

These photos show TA-4J number 04 and TA-4J(H) number 45 after they had been upgraded to “Ayit Meshupar” standard. Note that both aircraft are seen carrying AIM-9P3 Sidewinders which is a nonstandard missile for former US Navy aircraft to carry. This appears to be possible thanks to an adapter that can be seen between the missile rail and the hardpoint. Also note that TA-4J number 04 completely lacks cannons at this point while TA-4J(H) number 45 retained it’s cannons.

In 2004 The TA-4Js, as well as the TA-4J(H)s, TA-4Hs and A-4Ns, were refurbished under a program called “Ayit Meshupar” (Improved Ayit). This refurbishment saw the aircraft being modernized with a new HUD made by VECTOP, an improved GPS based navigation system and a modern mission and fire control computer. The TA-4Js continued their service as trainers with these modernizations until the 13th of December 2015 when all Skyhawks that were still in service were retired. Today some TA-4Js still remain on the grounds of IAF air bases, and TA-4J number 08 is displayed in the Israei Air Force Museum.

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TA-4J number 08 on display in the Israeli Air Force museum.

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Specifications

Type: Tandem Seat Trainer/Attack Aircraft

Country of origin: USA

Wing span: 8.38 meters

Length: 12.98 meters

Height: 4.76 meters

Powerplant: Pratt and Whitney J-52-P-8A rated at 4,218 kgf

Max speed: 1,085 km/h

Max altitude: 13,200 meters

Range: 2494 km

Weight: Empty - 4,993 kg, Fully loaded - 11,113 kg

Armaments: 2x20mm Colt Mk.12 cannons (100 round per gun for a total of 200), Mk.80 series bombs (including ones with Snakeye kits), M117 bombs, FFAR Might Mouse rockets, Zuni rockets, 20mm Mark 11 mod 5 cannon-pods, Mk.77 Incendiary bombs, AIM-9P3 Sidewinders (only seen on airframes upgraded to Ayit Meshupar standard).

Avionics:

Refueling Probe
APG-53A Radar (Provisional)
ASN-41 Nav computer (Provisional)
ARC-51A UHF Comm
ARR-69 UHF AUX Rec
APX-72 Radar IFF
APN-153 Doppler Navigation Radar (Provisional)
TACAN ARN-52
ARA-50 ADF (UHF)
ARN-141 Radar Altimeter
AN/AJB-3A LABS and CP-741 Weapon Delivery Systems (CCRP) (Provisional)
Provisions for JATO (Jet Assisted Takeoff) boosters
A pair of AN/ALE-29A countermeasure blocks housing together 60 charges (Available only after the Yom Kippur War along with the installation of the extended tail pipe)
Drag Chute (Available only after the Yom Kippur War along with the installation of the extended tail pipe)