A-4E Early (M) (Israel)

This page is about the strike aircraft A-4E Early (M) (Israel). For other versions, see A-4 (Family).

A-4E Early (M)

A-4E Early (M)

Description

The A-4E Early (A4D-5) was part of the revision that improved the previous Skyhawk variants. It featured the J52-P-6A engine, which had better fuel consumption while also providing much more thrust. Other improvements included more hardpoints and new computers for navigation, bomb dropping, and more. The A-4E also marked the beginning of the new naming system for the Skyhawk. The "Early" versions of the A-4E lack the iconic "humpback" behind the cockpit, which houses more electronics. It also lacks the improved J52-P-8 engine. During the Yom Kippur War, Israel was losing Skyhawks at an astonishing rate, which led to 25+ A-4E Skyhawks being transferred over.

The A-4E Early (M) Skyhawk Skyhawk was introduced in Update "Winged Lions" and can be seen as a worse version of the premium A-4E. The A-4E Early most importantly, lacks the J52-P-8A engine found in the A-4E, which provides an 8% increase in thrust. Other than that, it is very similar to the regular A-4E. The A-4E Early comes armed with the standard two 30 mm DEFA cannons mounted in the chin as well as two AIM-9B Sidewinders. The Sidewinders are quite useful for forcing opponents to lose energy/speed and picking off slow targets. The A-4E Early also has 60 countermeasures, which allow for 30 drops. It's very useful against Sea Vixens, and in uptiers where missiles like the AIM-9G and R-60 are prevalent.

General info

Flight performance

Characteristics	Max Speed (km/h at 0 m - sea level)		Max altitude (metres)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (metres/second)		Take-off run (metres)
	AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
Stock	1,066	1,056		38.3	39.2	34.7	34.7	1,000
Upgraded	1,094	1,080		36.3	37.0	60.4	47.0

Details

Features
Combat flaps	Take-off flaps	Landing flaps	Air brakes	Arrestor gear	Drogue chute
✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓

Limits
Wings (km/h)	Gear (km/h)	Flaps (km/h)			Max Static G
		Combat	Take-off	Landing	+	-
1,167		592	560	410	~8	~3

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< 450	< 700	< 490	N/A

Engine performance

Engine			Aircraft mass
Engine name		Number	Basic mass		Wing loading (full fuel)
Pratt & Whitney J52-P-6A		1	5,024 kg		310 kg/m2
Engine characteristics			Mass with fuel (no weapons load)				Max Takeoff Weight
Weight (each)	Type		12m fuel	20m fuel	30m fuel	40m fuel
900 kg	Axial-flow turbojet		5,764 kg	6,230 kg	6,833 kg	7,492 kg	11,113 kg
Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB/SB)			Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (100%)
Condition	100%	WEP	12m fuel	20m fuel	30m fuel	40m fuel	MTOW
Stationary	3,470 kgf	N/A	0.60	0.56	0.51	0.46	0.31
Optimal	3,470 kgf (0 km/h)	N/A	0.60	0.56	0.51	0.46	0.31

Survivability and armour

Examine the survivability of the aircraft. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured, etc. Describe the armour, if there is any, and also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.

Armaments

Ballistic Computer
CCIP (Guns)	CCIP (Rockets)	CCIP (Bombs)	CCRP (Bombs)

Offensive armament

The A-4E Early (M) (Israel) is armed with:

• 2 x 30 mm DEFA 552 cannons, belly-mounted (150 rpg = 300 total)
• 60 x countermeasures

Suspended armament

The A-4E Early (M) (Israel) can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

	1	2	3	4	5
20 mm Mk 11 mod 5 cannons (750 rpg)		1	1	1
100/50 kg G.P. bombs	1	6	6	6	1
250 lb SAMP Mk 81 bombs	1	6	6	6	1
500 lb SAMP Mk 82 bombs	1	3	6	3	1
500 lb SAMP Mk 82 250 Snakeye bombs	1	3	6	3	1
250/50 kg G.P. bombs	1	3	6	3	1
360/50 kg G.P. bombs		1	1	1
1,000 lb SAMP Mk 83 bombs		1	3	1
500/50 kg G.P. bombs		1	1	1
505 kg AGM-62A Walleye I bombs		1		1
2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 bombs			1
2,000 lb GBU-8 bombs			1
Mk 77 mod 4 incendiary bombs	1	2	3	2	1
FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets	19	38	57	38	19
Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets	4	8	12	8	4
AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles	1				1
Maximum permissible loadout weight: 3,720 kg Maximum permissible wing load: 1,860 kg

Default weapon presets

Without load 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles 171 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets 36 x Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets 20 x 100/50 kg G.P. bombs (2,000 kg total) 14 x 250/50 kg G.P. bombs (3,500 kg total) 3 x 360/50 kg G.P. bombs (1,080 kg total) 3 x 500/50 kg G.P. bombs (1,500 kg total) 1 x 2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 bomb (2,000 lb total) 14 x 500 lb SAMP Mk 82 250 Snakeye bombs (7,000 lb total) 2 x 505 kg AGM-62A Walleye I bombs (1,010 kg total) 1 x 2,000 lb GBU-8 bomb (2,000 lb total) 9 x Mk 77 mod 4 incendiary bombs 3 x 20 mm Mk 11 mod 5 cannons (750 rpg = 2,250 total)

Usage in battles

Describe the tactics of playing in the aircraft, the features of using aircraft in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but instead, give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Large variety of ground attack ordnance, including TV-guided ground bombs
• Good turn rate at low speeds
• Carries countermeasures to deal with missiles

Cons:

• Wings can rip off at high speed or high negative G manoeuvres
• Sluggish acceleration and underperforming engine for the aircraft
• Bleeds air speed quickly in high G turn
• Can stall out quickly in Sim Battles without SAS (Stability Augmentation System)

History

Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the aircraft in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History) and add a link to it here using the main template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <ref></ref>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <references />. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under === In-game description ===, also if applicable).

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the A-4E Early (M) (Israel) from live.warthunder.com.

See also

Related development

• A-4 (Family)

External links

• Official data sheet - more details about the performance
• Standard Aircraft Characteristics of the A-4E

Douglas Aircraft Company
Strike Aircraft	A-20G-25 · A-26B-10 · A-26B-50 · AD-2 · AD-4 · A-1H
Bombers	TBD-1 · B-18A · SBD-3 · BTD-1 · A-26C-45 · A-26C-45DT
Turboprops	A2D-1
Jet Aircraft	F3D-1 · F4D-1
A-4 Skyhawk	A-4B · A-4E Early
Export	▄Havoc Mk I · ▄Boston Mk I · ▄DB-7 · ▂A-20G-30 · ▄AD-4 · ▄AD-4NA
A-4 Skyhawk	A-4H · A-4E Early (M) · Ayit · A-4E
	The Douglas Aircraft Company merged with McDonnell Aircraft Corporation in 1967 to form McDonnell Douglas.

Israel jet aircraft
	Kfir Canard · Kfir C.2 · Kfir C.7 · Nesher
Britain
Meteor	Meteor NF.13 · Meteor F.8
France
Vautour	Vautour IIA · Vautour IIN
Super Mystere	Sambad · Sa'ar
Mirage III	Shahak
Other	M.D.450B Ouragan · Mystere IVA
USA
F-84	F-84F
A-4	A-4H · A-4E Early (M) · A-4E · Ayit
F-4	Kurnass · Kurnass 2000
F-15	Baz · Baz Meshupar · F-15I Ra’am
F-16	Netz · F-16C Barak II · F-16D Barak II