page_title: Douglas A-4 Skyhawk
section_title: Variants
hierarchical_section_title: Douglas A-4 Skyhawk / Variants
caption_attribution_description: A Republic of Singapore Air Force Douglas A-4SU Skyhawk aircraft takes off at Korat AB, Thailand for a mission in support of Exercise COPE TIGER '02 on 16 Jan 2002. Cope Tiger is an annual, multinational exercise in the Asia-Pacific region which promotes closer relations and enables air force units in the region to sharpen air combat skills and practice interoperability with US Forces. Note the empty multiple ejector rack (MER) mounted on the centerline hardpoint.
context_page_description: The Douglas A-4 Skyhawk is a single-seat subsonic carrier-capable light attack aircraft developed for the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps in the early 1950s. The delta-winged, single turbojet engined Skyhawk was designed and produced by Douglas Aircraft Company, and later by McDonnell Douglas. It was originally designated A4D under the U.S. Navy's pre-1962 designation system.
  The Skyhawk is a relatively lightweight aircraft, with a maximum takeoff weight of 24,500 pounds, and has a top speed of 670 miles per hour. The aircraft's five hardpoints support a variety of missiles, bombs, and other munitions. It is capable of carrying a bomb load equivalent to that of a World War II–era Boeing B-17 bomber, and can deliver nuclear weapons using a low-altitude bombing system and a "loft" delivery technique. The A-4 was originally powered by the Wright J65 turbojet engine; from the A-4E onwards, the Pratt & Whitney J52 engine was used.
  Skyhawks played key roles in the Vietnam War, the Yom Kippur War, and the Falklands War.
caption: Republic of Singapore Air Force A-4SU Super Skyhawk
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