Douglas A-4G Skyhawk

The Douglas A‑4G Skyhawk was a carrier‑based attack aircraft built by McDonnell Douglas in the early 1970s for the Royal Australian Navy. Derived from the proven A‑4F model, the G variant incorporated a more powerful General Electric J35‑A-35 turbo‑jet engine rated at 7,200 pounds thrust, reinforced wing spars for intensified carrier operations, and a revised avionics suite that included Australian‑specific navigation and weapons‑control computers. Its compact airframe, measuring just 40 feet in length with a wingspan of 27 feet, allowed for tight deck handling and rapid launch from the decks of HMAS Melbourne. The A‑4G could carry up to 5,000 pounds of ordnance on six underwing pylons, ranging from conventional bombs to air‑to‑ground rockets and, later, AGM‑65 Maverick missiles. The aircraft served as the backbone of the RAN’s fighter‑attack capability from 1970 until its retirement in 1984, after which many were transferred to the Royal Australian Air Force and later sold to civilian operators. The Skyhawk’s simple yet robust design, low operating costs, and impressive maneuverability made it a benchmark for lightweight attack jets, influencing subsequent carrier‑borne aircraft and cementing its place in modern naval aviation history.

McDonnell Douglas

Douglas A-4G Skyhawk

Classification

Production & History

Design & Classification