Douglas A - 4 Skyhawk The Douglas A - 4 Skyhawk is a carrier - capable attack aircraft developed for the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps . The delta winged , single - engined Skyhawk was designed and produced by Douglas Aircraft Company , and later by McDonnell Douglas . It was originally designated the A4D under the U . S . Navy ' s pre - 1962 designation system . The Skyhawk is a light - weight aircraft with a maximum takeoff weight of and has a top speed of more than . The aircraft ' s five hardpoint s support a variety of missiles , bombs and other munitions and was capable of delivering 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 was used . Skyhawks played key roles in the Vietnam War , the Yom Kippur War , and the Falklands War . Fifty years after the aircraft ' s first flight , some of the nearly 3 , 000 produced remain in service with several air arms around the world , including from the Brazilian Navy ' s aircraft carrier , " São Paulo " . Design and development . The Skyhawk was designed by Douglas Aircraft ' s Ed Heinemann in response to a U . S . Navy call for a jet - powered attack aircraft to replace the older Douglas AD Skyraider ( later redesignated A - 1 Skyraider ) . Heinemann opted for a design that would minimize its size , weight , and complexity . The result was an aircraft that weighed only half of the Navy ' s weight specification . It had a wing so compact that it did not need to be folded for carrier stowage . The diminutive Skyhawk soon received the nicknames " Scooter " , " Kiddiecar " , " Bantam Bomber " , " Tinker Toy Bomber " , and , on account of its nimble performance , " Heinemann ' s Hot - Rod " . The aircraft is of conventional post - World War II design , with a low - mounted delta wing , tricycle undercarriage , and a single turbojet engine in the rear fuselage , with two air intakes on the fuselage sides . The tail is of cruciform design , with the horizontal stabilizer mounted above the fuselage . Armament consisted of two 20 mm ( . 79 in caliber ) Colt Mk 12 cannon s , one in each wing root , with 200 rounds per gun , plus a large variety of bombs , rockets , and missiles carried on a hardpoint under the fuselage centerline and hardpoints under each wing ( originally one per wing , later two ) . The choice of a delta wing , for example , combined speed and maneuverability with a large fuel capacity and small overall size , thus not requiring folding wings , albeit at the expense of cruising efficiency . The leading edge slats were designed to drop automatically at the appropriate speed by gravity and air pressure , saving weight and space by omitting actuation motors and switches . Similarly the main undercarriage did not penetrate the main wing spar , designed so that when retracted only the wheel itself was inside the wing and the undercarriage struts were housed in a fairing below the wing . The wing structure itself could be lighter with the same overall strength and the absence of a wing folding mechanism further reduced weight . This is the opposite of what can often happen in aircraft design where a small weight increase in one area leads to a compounding increase in weight in other areas to compensate , leading to the need for more powerful , heavier engines and so on in a vicious circle . The A - 4 pioneered the concept of " buddy " air - to - air refueling . This allows the aircraft to supply others of the same type , eliminating the need of dedicated tanker aircraft — a particular advantage for small air arms or when operating in remote locations . This allows for greatly improved operational flexibility and reassurance against the loss or malfunction of tanker aircraft , though this procedure reduces the effective combat force on board the carrier . A designated supply A - 4 would mount a center - mounted " buddy store " , a large external fuel tank with a hose reel in the aft section and an extensible drogue refueling bucket . This aircraft was fueled up without armament and launched first . Attack aircraft would be armed to the maximum and given as much fuel as was allowable by maximum takeoff weight limits , far less than a full tank . Once airborne , they would then proceed to top off their fuel tanks from the tanker using the A - 4 ' s fixed refueling probe on the starboard side of the aircraft nose . They could then sortie with both full armament and fuel loads . While rarely used in U . S . service since the KA - 3 Skywarrior tanker became available , the Boeing F / A - 18E / F Super Hornet includes this capability . The A - 4 was also designed to be able to make an emergency landing , in the event of a hydraulic failure , on the two drop tanks nearly always carried by these aircraft . Such landings resulted in only minor damage to the nose of the aircraft which could be repaired in less than an hour . The Navy issued a contract for the type on 12 June 1952 , and the first prototype first flew from Edwards Air Force Base , California on 22 June 1954 . Deliveries to Navy and Marine Corps squadrons ( to VA - 72 and VMA - 224 respectively ) commenced in late 1956 . The Skyhawk remained in production until 1979 , with 2 , 960 aircraft built , including 555 two - seat trainers . The last production A - 4 , an A - 4M of Marine squadron ( VMA - 223 ) had the flags of all nations that operated the A - 4 painted on its fuselage sides . Operational history . United States . The Skyhawk proved to be a relatively common United States Navy aircraft export of the postwar era . Due to its small size , it could be operated from the older , smaller World War II - era aircraft carriers still used by many smaller navies during the 1960s . These older ships were often unable to accommodate newer Navy fighters such as the F - 4 Phantom II and F - 8 Crusader , which were faster and more capable than the A - 4 , but significantly larger and heavier than older naval fighters . The Navy operated the A - 4 in both Regular Navy and Naval Reserve light attack squadrons ( VA ) . Although the A - 4 ' s use as a training and adversary aircraft would continue well into the 1990s , the Navy began removing the aircraft from its front line attack squadrons in 1967 , with the last ones ( Super Foxes of VA - 55 / 212 / 164 ) being retired in 1976 . The Marine Corps would not take the U . S . Navy ' s replacement warplane , the LTV A - 7 Corsair II , instead keeping Skyhawks in service with both Regular Marine Corps and Marine Corps Reserve attack squadrons ( VMA ) , and ordering the new A - 4M model . The last USMC Skyhawk was delivered in 1979 , and they were used until the mid - 1980s before they were replaced by the equally small , but more versatile STOVL AV - 8 Harrier II . VMA - 131 , Marine Aircraft Group 49 ( the Diamondbacks ) retired its last four OA - 4Ms on 22 June 1994 . Lieutenant Colonel George " Eagle " Lake III ( CO ) , Major John " Baja " Rufo ( XO ) , Captain Dave " Yoda " Hurston , and Major Mike " Struts " Volland flew a final official USMC A - 4 sortie during the A - 4 standdown ceremony . Trainer versions of the Skyhawk remained in Navy service , however , finding a new lease on life with the advent of " adversary training " , where the nimble A - 4 was used as a stand - in for the Mikoyan - Gurevich MiG - 17 in dissimilar air combat training ( DACT ) . It served in that role at " Top Gun " until 1999 . The A - 4 ' s nimble performance also made it suitable to replace the McDonnell Douglas F - 4 Phantom II when the Navy downsized its aircraft for the Blue Angels demonstration team , until McDonnell Douglas F / A - 18 Hornet s were available in the 1980s . The last U . S . Navy Skyhawks , TA - 4J models belonging to the composite squadron VC - 8 , remained in military use for target - towing , and as adversary aircraft , for combat training at Naval Station Roosevelt Roads . These aircraft were officially retired on 3 May 2003 . Skyhawks were well loved by their crews for being tough and agile . These attributes , along with their low purchase and operating cost as well as easy maintenance , have contributed to the popularity of the A - 4 with American and international armed forces . Besides the United States , at least three other nations have used A - 4 Skyhawks in combat ( Argentina , Israel , and Kuwait ) . Vietnam War era . Skyhawks were the U . S . Navy ' s primary light bomber used over North Vietnam during the early years of the Vietnam War while the USAF was flying the supersonic Republic F - 105 Thunderchief ; they were later supplanted by the A - 7 Corsair II in the U . S . Navy light bomber role . Skyhawks carried out some of the first air strikes by the US during the conflict , and a Marine Skyhawk is believed to have dropped the last American bombs on the country . Notable naval aviators who flew the Skyhawk included Lieutenant Commander s Everett Alvarez , Jr . and John McCain , and Commander James Stockdale . On 1 May 1967 , an A - 4C Skyhawk piloted by Lieutenant Commander Theodore R . Swartz of VA - 76 aboard the carrier , shot down a North Vietnamese Air Force MiG - 17 with an unguided Zuni rocket as the Skyhawk ' s only air - to - air victory of the Vietnam War . From 1956 on , Navy Skyhawks were the first aircraft to be deployed outside of the U . S . armed with the AIM - 9 Sidewinder . On strike missions , which was the Skyhawk ' s normal role , the air - to - air armament was for self - defensive purposes . In the early to mid - 1960s , standard U . S . Navy A - 4B Skyhawk squadrons were assigned to provide daytime fighter protection for anti - submarine warfare aircraft operating from some " Essex " - class U . S . anti - submarine warfare carriers , these aircraft retained their ground - and sea - attack capabilities . The A - 4B model did not have an air - to - air radar , and it required visual identification of targets and guidance from either ships in the fleet or an airborne Grumman E - 1 Tracer AEW aircraft . Lightweight and safer to land on smaller decks , Skyhawks would later also play a similar role flying from Australian , Argentinean , and Brazilian upgraded World War II surplus light ASW carriers , which were also unable to operate most large modern fighters . Primary air - to - air armament consisted of the internal 20 mm ( . 79 in ) Colt cannons and ability to carry an AIM - 9 Sidewinder missile on both underwing hardpoints , later additions of two more underwing hardpoints on some aircraft made for a total capacity of four AAMs . The first combat loss of an A - 4 occurred on 5 August 1964 , when Lieutenant junior grade Alvarez , of VA - 144 aboard the , was shot down while attacking enemy torpedo boats in North Vietnam . Alvarez safely ejected after being hit by anti - aircraft artillery ( AAA ) fire , and became the first US Naval POW of the war ; he was released as a POW on 12 February 1973 . The last A - 4 loss in the Vietnam War occurred on 26 September 1972 , when USMC pilot Captain James P . Walsh , USMC of VMA - 211 , flying from his land base at Bien Hoa Air Base , South Vietnam , was hit by ground fire near An Lộc . An Lộc was one of the few remaining hotly contested areas during this time period , and Captain Walsh was providing close air support ( CAS ) for ground troops in contact ( land battle / fire fight ) when his A - 4 was hit , catching fire , forcing him to eject . Rescue units were sent , but the SAR helicopter was damaged by enemy ground fire , and forced to withdraw . Captain Walsh , after safely ejecting , had landed within NVA ( North Vietnamese Army ) positions , and had become a POW as soon as his feet had touched the ground . Captain Walsh was the last U . S . Marine to be taken prisoner during the war , and was released as a POW on 12 February 1973 . Although the first A - 4Es were flown in Vietnam in early 1965 , the A - 4Cs continued to be used until late 1970 . The Seabees of MCB - 10 went ashore on 7 May 1965 . On 1 June 1965 , the Chu Lai Short Airfield for Tactical Support ( SATS ) was officially opened with the arrival of eight A - 4 Skyhawks from Cubi Point , Philippine Islands . The group landed with the aid of arresting cables , refueled and took off with the aid of JATO , with fuel and bombs to support Marine combat units . The Skyhawks were from Marine Attack Squadron VMA - 225 and VMA - 311 . < On 29 July 1967 , the aircraft carrier was conducting combat operations in the Gulf of Tonkin during the Vietnam War . A Zuni rocket misfired , knocking off an external tank on an A - 4 . Fuel from the leaking tank caught fire , creating a massive conflagration that burned for hours , killing 134 sailors , and injuring 161 . ( See 1967 " Forrestal " fire . ) During the war , 362 A - 4 / TA - 4F Skyhawks were lost to all causes . The U . S . Navy lost 271 A - 4s , the U . S . Marine Corps lost 81 A - 4s and 10 TA - 4Fs . A total of 32 A - 4s were lost to surface - to - air missiles ( SAMs ) , and one A - 4 was lost in aerial combat to a MiG - 17 on 25 April 1967 . Training and adversary role . The A - 4 Skyhawk , in the two - seat TA - 4J configuration , was introduced to a training role replacing the TF - 9J Cougar . The TA - 4J served as the advanced jet trainer in white and orange markings for decades until being replaced by the T - 45 Goshawk . Additional TA - 4Js were assigned to Instrument Training RAGs at all the Navy master jet bases under RCVW - 12 and RCVW - 4 . The Instrument RAGs initially provided jet transition training for Naval Aviators during the time period when Naval Aviation still had a great number of propeller - driven aircraft and also provided annual instrument training and check rides for Naval Aviator s . The assigned TA - 4J models were installed with collapsible hoods so the aviator under training had to demonstrate instrument flying skills without any outside reference . These units were VF - 126 at NAS Miramar , California ; VA - 127 ( later VFA - 127 ) at NAS Lemoore , California ; VF - 43 at NAS Oceana , Virginia ; and VA - 45 ( later VF - 45 ) at NAS Cecil Field , Florida until its later move to NAS Key West , Florida . Additional single - seat A - 4 Skyhawks were also assigned to composite squadrons ( VC ) worldwide to provide training and other services to deployed units . These included VC - 1 at NAS Barbers Point , Hawaii ; VC - 7 at NAS Miramar , California ; VC - 5 at NAS Cubi Point , Republic of the Philippines ; VC - 8 at NS Roosevelt Roads , Puerto Rico ; VC - 10 at NAVBASE Guantánamo Bay , Cuba , and Naval Reserve squadrons VC - 12 ( later VFC - 12 ) at NAS Oceana , Virginia and VC - 13 ( later VFC - 13 ) at NAS Miramar , California until its later move to NAS Fallon , Nevada . With renewed emphasis on Air Combat Maneuvering ( ACM ) training brought on with the establishment of the Navy Fighter Weapons School ( " TOPGUN " ) in 1969 , the availability of A - 4 Skyhawks in both the Instrument RAGs and Composite Squadrons at the master jet bases presented a ready resource of the nimble Skyhawks that had become the TOPGUN preferred surrogate for the MiG - 17 . At the time , the F - 4 Phantom was just beginning to be exploited to its full potential as a fighter and had not performed as well as expected against the smaller North Vietnamese MiG - 17 and MiG - 21 opponents . TOPGUN introduced the notion of dissimilar air combat training ( DACT ) using modified A - 4E / Fs . Modified aircraft , called " Mongoose " , lost the dorsal hump , the 20 mm cannon with their ammo systems , and the external stores , although sometimes the centerline station was kept . The slats were fixed . The small size of the Skyhawk and superb low speed handling in the hands of a well trained aviator made it ideal to teach fleet aviators the finer points of DACT . The squadrons eventually began to display vivid threat type paint schemes signifying their transition into the primary role of Adversary training . To better perform the Adversary role , single - seat A - 4E and F models were introduced into the role , but the ultimate adversary Skyhawk was the Super Fox , which was equipped with the uprated J52 - P - 408 engine . This variant had entered service in 1974 with VA - 55 / VA - 164 / VA - 212 on the final USS " Hancock " cruise and had been the variant that the Blue Angels had selected in 1973 . The surplus of former USMC Skyhawks resulted in A - 4M versions being used by both VF - 126 and TOPGUN . Even though the A - 4 was augmented by the F - 5E , F - 21 ( Kfir ) , F - 16 , and F / A - 18 in the adversary role , the A - 4 remained a viable threat surrogate until it was retired by VF - 43 in 1993 and shortly thereafter by VFC - 12 . The last A - 4 fleet operators were VC - 8 , which retired its Skyhawks in 2003 . The A - 4M was also operated by the Operations Maintenance Detachment ( OMD ) in an adversary role based at NAS Dallas , Texas for the Naval Air Reserve . Many of the aviators that flew the four jets were attached to NAS Dallas , including the Commanding Officer of the air station . The aircraft were instrumental in training and development of Air Combat Maneuvers ( ACM ) for Naval Air Reserve fighter squadrons VF - 201 and VF - 202 flying the F - 4 Phantom II and later the Grumman F - 14 Tomcat . The unit also completed several missions involving target towing to NAS Key West , Florida ; NAS Kingsville , Texas , and deployments to NAS Miramar , California and NAS Fallon , Nevada for adversary support . The detachment was under the operational command of the Commander Fleet Logistics Support Wing ( CFLSW ) , also based at NAS Dallas . Israel . Israel was the largest export customer for Skyhawks . The Skyhawk was the first U . S . warplane to be offered to the Israeli Air Force , marking the point where the U . S . took over from France as Israel ' s chief military supplier . Deliveries began after the Six - Day War , and A - 4s soon formed the backbone of the IAF ' s ground - attack force . In IAF Service , the A - 4 Skyhawk was named as the " Ayit " ( , for Eagle ) . They cost only a quarter of what a Phantom II cost and carried more bombs . Since 1966 , Israel purchased 217 A - 4s , plus another 46 that were transferred from U . S . units in Operation Nickel Grass to compensate for large losses during the Yom Kippur War . In the late 1960s and 1970s , Israeli Air Force Skyhawks were the primary ground attack aircraft in the War of Attrition and the Yom Kippur War . Skyhawks carried out bombing missions in the Yom Kippur War , and a considerable proportion of the tactical sorties . They also suffered heavy losses , partially because of their relatively low penetration speed . The Skyhawks bore the brunt of losses to sophisticated SA - 6 Gainful missile batteries and Anti - aircraft guns . In May 1970 , an Israeli Skyhawk piloted by Col . Ezra Dotan shot down two MiG - 17s over south Lebanon ( one with unguided rockets , the other with 30mm cannon fire ) even though the Skyhawk ' s heads up display has no " air to air mode " . A special version of the A - 4 was developed for the IAF , the A - 4H . This was an A - 4E which featured improved avionics and the improved thrust J52 - P - 8A engine . Armament consisted of twin DEFA 30 mm cannon in place of the Colt Mk . 12 20 mm cannons . Later modifications included the avionics hump and an extended tailpipe , implemented in Israel by IAI . The extended tailpipe gave greater protection against heat seeking surface to air missiles . A total of 90 A - 4Hs were delivered , and were Heyl Ha ' avir ' s ( Israels Air Force ) primary attack plane in the War of Attrition . In early 1973 , the improved A - 4N Skyhawk for Israel entered service , based on the A - 4M models used by the U . S . Marine Corps . The different model Skyhawks carried out bombing missions in the Yom Kippur War , and a considerable proportion of the tactical sorties . They also attacked in Operation Peace for the Galilee , and one of them shot down a Syrian MiG - 17 . The IAF also operated two - seat models , for operations as well as advanced training and retraining . The first training models arrived in 1967 , with the first batch of Skyhawks . During the Yom Kippur war , the Skyhawk order of battle was reinforced with TA - 4F and TA - 4J models . The IAF selected in 2003 RADA Electronic Industries Ltd . to upgrade its A - 4 trainer fleet with weapon delivery , navigation and training systems . Integration of a multifunction and Head - up Display produced an advanced Lead in fighter trainer for the IAF ' s future fighter pilots . During the 1982 Lebanon War an Israeli A - 4 piloted by Aharon Ahiaz was shot down over Lebanon by a SA - 7 on 6 June 1982 . Israel claimed this was one of its only two fixed wing aircraft shot down over the Beqaa Valley during the air battle of 6 June 1982 to 11 June 1982 where 150 aircraft took part . In October 2008 , it was decided due to maintenance issues that the A - 4 Skyhawk fleet would be withdrawn and replaced by more modern aircraft , able to perform equally well the training role and , if required , Close Support and Interdiction missions on the battlefield . Some of Israel ' s A - 4s were later exported to Indonesia . The Skyhawks have been replaced by F - 16s in combat roles but are still used for pilot training . All the remaining A - 4s aircraft will by fully phased out beginning by 2014 as the IAF accepts delivery of Alenia Aermacchi M - 346 Master jets . Skyhawks were used to drop leaflets to Gaza in 2012 . In July 2013 , Israel began a program called " Teuza " ( boldness ) for the purpose of turning some military bases into sales lots for obsolete IDF equipment . Older models that are not suited for Israel ' s modern high - tech forces will be sold off , or sold for scrap if there are no buyers . A - 4 Skyhawk jets are among those being offered . Australia . Twenty A - 4G skyhawks were operated by the Royal Australian Navy for operation from . These aircraft were acquired in two batches of ten Skyhawks in 1967 and 1971 , and were primarily used to provide air defence for the fleet . Ten of the A - 4Gs were destroyed in accidents , and all of the survivors were sold to the Royal New Zealand Air Force in 1984 . New Zealand . In 1970 , 14 A - 4K aircraft were delivered to the Royal New Zealand Air Force . These were later joined by 10 A - 4G Skyhawks from the Royal Australian Navy in 1984 ; all were converted to A - 4K Kahu standard . The RNZAF withdrew the Skyhawks from service in 2001 and placed in storage awaiting sale . Draken International signed an agreement with the New Zealand government in 2012 to purchase eight A - 4Ks and associated equipment . The remaining aircraft were given to museums in New Zealand and Australia . Argentina . Argentina was the first foreign user of the Skyhawk and it had nearly 130 A - 4s delivered since 1965 . The Argentine Air Force received 25 A - 4Bs in 1966 and another 25 in 1970 , all refurbished in the United States by Lockheed Service Co . prior to their delivery as " A - 4P " , although they were still locally known as " A - 4B " . They had three weapon pylons and served in the 5th Air Brigade ( ) . In 1976 , 25 A - 4Cs were ordered to replace the F - 86 Sabre s still in service in the 4th Air Brigade ( ) . They were received " as is " and refurbished to flight status by the Air Force technicians at Río Cuarto , Córdoba . The C model had five weapon pylons and could use AIM - 9B Sidewinders air - to - air missile s . The Argentine Naval Aviation also bought the Skyhawk known as " A - 4Q " in the form of 16 A - 4Bs plus two for spare parts , modified with five weapon pylons and to carry AIM - 9B Sidewinders . They were received in 1971 to replace Grumman F9F Panther and Grumman F9F Cougar in use from the aircraft carrier ARA " Veinticinco de Mayo " by the 3rd Fighter / Attack Squadron ( ) . The United States placed an embargo of spare parts in 1977 due to the Dirty War backing the Humphrey - Kennedy amendment to the Foreign Assistance Act of 1976 , the Carter administration placed an embargo on the sale of arms and spare parts to Argentina and on the training of its military personnel ( which was lifted in the 1990s under Carlos Menem ' s presidency when Argentina became a major non - NATO ally ) . Ejection seats did not work and there were many other mechanical faults . In spite of this , A - 4s still served well in the 1982 Falklands War where they achieved some success against the Royal Navy . Falklands War . During the 1982 Falklands War ( Malvinas War ) , Argentina deployed 48 Skyhawk warplanes ( 26 A - 4P , 12 A - 4C and 10 A - 4Q aircraft ) . Armed with unguided bombs and lacking any electronic or missile self - defense , Argentine Air Force Skyhawks sank the Type 42 destroyer and the Type 21 frigate as well as inflicting heavy damage on several others : RFA " Sir Galahad " ( which was subsequently scuttled as a war grave ) , the Type 42 , the , the Type 22 frigate , and RFA " Sir Tristram " . Argentine Navy A - 4Qs , flying from Río Grande , Tierra del Fuego naval air station , also played a role in the bombing attacks against British ships , destroying the Type 21 . In all , 22 Skyhawks ( 10 A - 4Ps , nine A - 4Cs , and three A - 4Qs ) were lost to all causes in the six - week - long war . These losses included eight to British Sea Harriers , seven to ship - launched surface - to - air missiles , four to ground - launched surface - to - air missiles and anti - aircraft fire ( including one to " friendly fire " ) , and three to crashes . After the war , Argentine Air Force A - 4Ps and A - 4Cs survivors were upgraded under the " Halcon " program with DEFA cannon s , 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 OA / A - 4AR Fightinghawk . Several TA - 4J and A - 4E airframes were also delivered under the A - 4AR program , mainly for spare parts use . 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 . Kuwait . More recently , Kuwaiti Air Force Skyhawks fought in 1991 during Operation Desert Storm . When Iraq invaded Kuwait , the available Skyhawks flew attack missions against the advancing Iraqi forces from deserted roads after their bases were overrun . A total of 24 of the 29 A - 4KUs that remained in service with Kuwait ( from 36 delivered in the 1970s ) escaped to Saudi Arabia . The escaped Skyhawks ( along with escaped Dassault Mirage F1 s ) operated as the Free Kuwait Air Force , flying 1 , 361 sorties during the liberation of Kuwait . Twenty - three A - 4s survived the conflict and the Iraqi invasion , with only one A - 4KU ( KAF - 828 , BuNo . 160207 ) shot down by Iraqi anti - aircraft artillery on 17 January 1991 . The pilot , Mohammed Mubarak , ejected and was taken prisoner . The remaining Kuwaiti Skyhawks were later sold to Brazil , where they currently serve aboard the aircraft carrier NAe " São Paulo " . Indonesia . Due to the declining relationship between Indonesia and Soviet Union , there were a lack of spare parts for military hardware supplied by the Communist Bloc . Soon , most of them were scrapped . The Indonesian Air Force acquired A - 4 Skyhawks to replace its Il - 28 Beagles and Tu - 16 Badgers in a covert operation with Israel , since both countries did not maintain diplomatic relationships . These A - 4s from were chosen because the IDF planned to retire its A - 4 squadrons . The A - 4 served the Indonesian Air Force from 1982 until 2003 . Brazil . In 1997 Brazil negotiated a $ 70 million contract for purchase of 20 A - 4KU and three TA - 4KU Skyhawks from Kuwait . The Kuwaiti Skyhawks , modified A - 4Ms and TA - 4Js delivered in 1977 , were among the last of those models built by Douglas . The Kuwaiti Skyhawks were selected by Brazil because of low flight time , excellent physical condition , and a favorable price tag . The Brazilian Navy Re - designated AF - 1 and AF - 1A Falcões ( Hawks ) , the ex - Kuwaiti Skyhawks arrived in Arraial do Cabo on 5 September 1998 . On 18 January 2001 , an AF - 1 trapped aboard the Brazilian aircraft carrier " Minas Gerais " ( A11 ) and later was successfully catapulted , making Brazil ' s fixed - wing carrier force operational again after nearly two decades . To replace the aging " Minas Gerais " , Brazil purchased the surplus French aircraft carrier " Foch " on 15 November 2001 . Renamed " São Paulo " ( A12 ) , the " new " carrier received extensive refitting before becoming operational in 2003 . " Minas Gerais " was decommissioned and retired that year . In 14 April 2009 , Embraer signed a contract to modernize 12 Brazilian Navy jets nine AF - 1s ( single - seat ) and three AF - 1As ( two - seat ) . This upgrading will fully restore the operating capacity of the Navy 1st Intercept and Attack Plane Squadron , for their joint mission with the naval and navy air force groups in the National ' s defense . The program includes restoring the aircraft and their current systems , as well as implementing new avionics , radar , power production and autonomous oxygen generating systems .