page_title: Douglas A-4 Skyhawk
section_title: Postwar
hierarchical_section_title: Douglas A-4 Skyhawk / Operational history / Argentina / Postwar
caption_attribution_description: A-4AR Fightinghawk of the Argentinian Air Force
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.
context_section_description: After the war, Argentine Air Force A-4Ps and A-4Cs survivors were upgraded under the Halcón (Spanish for "falcon") program with 30 mm (1.2 in) DEFA cannons, air-to-air missiles, and other minor details, and merged into the 5th Air Brigade. All of these were withdrawn from service in 1999, and they were replaced with 36 of the much-improved Lockheed Martin OA/A-4AR Fightinghawk (rebuilt and modernised ex USMC A-4M). Several TA-4J and A-4E airframes were also delivered under the A-4AR program, mainly for spare parts use.  The A-4AR was in service between the late 1990s and 2016 when the majority of the fleet was grounded for serviceability and age.  A small number of airframes remained in service for limited roles.  Three aircraft were lost to accidents.
  In 1983, the United States vetoed the delivery by Israel of 24 A-4Hs for the Argentine Navy as the A-4Q replacement. The A-4Qs were finally retired in 1988.
caption: A-4AR Fightinghawk, 2006
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