ST Aerospace A-4SU Super Skyhawk

The ST Aerospace A-4SU Super Skyhawk is a major upgrade project of the Douglas A-4S Skyhawk attack aircraft undertaken by Singapore Aircraft Industries (SAI, now ST Aerospace) in the 1980s. It was used exclusively by the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), serving in the fighter-bomber role from 1989 until retirement from front line service in 2005. Since mid-1999, the A-4SU took on the additional role of being the designated advanced jet trainer (AJT) aircraft for the RSAF's AJT training program/detachment in Cazaux, France."Inauguration of the 150 Squadron Building in Cazaux Air Base, France." Singaporean Ministry of Defence, 24 July 2002. Retrieved: 13 July 2010.

Design and development A-4S and TA-4S Starting in 1973, the RSAF began to acquire Douglas A-4 Skyhawks. The first batch of over 50 airframes (ex-US Navy A-4Bs) was requisitioned from the Military Aircraft Storage and Disposition Center at Davis–Monthan AFB, Arizona which was released to the Lockheed Aircraft Service Company at Ontario, California, and its subsidiary Lockheed Aircraft Service Singapore at Seletar Airfield, Singapore for a major overhaul and refurbishment."Singapore Servicing." Flight International, 1972 (archived at Flightglobal.com) (Reed Business Information). Retrieved: 4 February 2011.

These aircraft emerged as the A-4S single-seater (44 airframes) and the TA-4S two-seat trainer (three airframes), all having more than 100 changes incorporated (these included a longer nose to house a new avionics package, five stores hardpoints instead of the usual three, a saddle-style Automatic Direction Finder dorsal hump, cockpit armour plating, spoilers, a cranked refuelling probe, AIM-9 Sidewinder capability, a brake parachute housing below the jetpipe into the standard A-4B airframes. As with the Israeli A-4Hs which were armed with a pair of 30 mm DEFA cannons, these were similarly armed with the ADEN cannons in place of the original 20 mm Colt Mk 12 cannons. A later order of four two-seat trainer airframes was placed in 1976, and these joined the RSAF in 1977.Frawley 2002, p. 155.

The TA-4S trainers were not the standard TA-4 with a common cockpit for the student and instructor pilot, but were instead rebuilt by Lockheed with a fuselage plug inserted into the front fuselage and a separate bulged cockpit (giving better all round visibility) for the instructor seated behind the student pilot. This arrangement was unique for the RSAF but was not the first by Lockheed (the Lockheed SR-71B and U-2CT/U-2RT/TR-1B/TU-2S trainers also used stepped cockpits). These rebuilt TA-4S trainers were powered by the original Wright J65 turbojet engines as used in the B/C models instead of the Pratt & Whitney J52 that powered purpose-built TA-4E/Fs trainers from Douglas; this was the main reason why the RSAF decided to not procure the TA-4E/Fs and then having to maintain two different engines across the fleet.

All single-seat aircraft were retired when the upgraded A-4SU entered service, instead, the twin-seaters were upgraded and remained in service.

A-4S-1 and TA-4S-1 A second batch of 70 airframes was ordered (mix of ex-US Navy A-4Bs and A-4Cs) in 1980, these were shipped directly to Singapore for rebuilding with the A-4Cs being rebuilt as the A-4S-1s while the A-4Bs remained in storage for use as spares. Along with a small number of TA-4S-1s, these newer Skyhawks (characterised by its straight refuelling probe instead of the cranked refuelling probe found on the original A-4S/TA-4S) would join the RSAF as attrition replacements from 1982. However, these airframes retained the original Colt Mk 12 cannons of the A-4Cs.

In 1983, a third order of 8 TA-4S saw 16 stored A-4Bs from the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center being converted and rebuilt as the TA-4S-1 trainers (eight airframes).

A-4SU and TA-4SU Super Skyhawk

In 1985, as a result of four A-4S being written off in separate accidents, coupled with the low serviceability of the original batch of A-4S, investigations conducted by RSAF revealed that although much of the fuselage's life remained, the Wright J65 engines used were too old and the associated spare parts were becoming both difficult and expensive to obtain. Consequently, the RSAF decided to upgrade the A-4S/TA-4S rather than to replace them.

SAI served as the main contractor for the upgrade project and a non-afterburning General Electric F404-GE-100D turbofan engine selected to power it, the scheme was extended to cover the entire fleet of newer A-4S-1s. The work involved a complete avionics modernisation, which included a nose-mounted Pave Penny laser seeker, an Inertial navigation system (INS), a Tactical air navigation system (TACAN), fore & aft Radar warning receivers (RWR) and chaff/flare countermeasures. The modernized A-4SU and TA-4SU versions had 29% more thrust, which resulted in a 30% reduction in takeoff time as well as an increase in usable payload, range and maximum speed. The maximum speed now at sea level is , and maximum cruise speed at was ."A-4 Technical data." Skyhawk.org. Retrieved: 21 July 2011.

Operational history

By 1974, the RSAF received enough refurbished A-4S to form the No. 142 Gryphon Squadron and No. 143 Phoenix Sqn, which were based at Tengah Air Base and Changi Air Base, respectively. In RSAF service, the A-4S/TA-4S were given 3-digit serials starting with 6 (e.g. 600, 651).Also, please refer to section "Aircraft on display" for additional reference. From 1982, A-4S-1 and TA-4S-1 Skyhawks were also obtained as attrition replacements; in 1984, the balance was allocated to form a new unit - No. 145 Hornet Squadron which was also based at Tengah Air Base. These were given 3-digit serial starting with 9 (e.g. 900, 929). In total, 150 airframes (all A-4Bs and Cs) were acquired by Singapore.

The modernized A-4SU Super Skyhawks were first received by 143 Squadron, followed by 142 and 145 Squadron of the RSAF from 1989 onwards. The type was also operated by the RSAF Black Knights aerobatic display team for precision aerial manoeuvers from 1990 to 2000.

In 1998, the French government offered the use of facilities at Cazaux Air Base. A 25-year lease for basing rights of 18 A-4SUs and approximately 250 RSAF personnel and their families was signed later that year. The Singapore-based 143 Squadron was disbanded in 1997 and its aircraft were handed over to 150 Squadron in place of its SIAI-Marchetti SF.260 basic trainers. 150 Squadron took up the role of advanced jet training, using its A-4SUs as a lead-in fighter trainer for RSAF pilots in France; the first of 18 aircraft were sent to France by ship in mid-1999 as part of the RSAF's Advanced Jet Training Program."RADM (NS) Teo Inaugurates RSAF’s Advanced Jet Training Facilities at Cazaux." MINDEF, 24 July 2002. Retrieved: 13 July 2010. The 11 remaining training aircraft (4 A-4SUs and 7 TA-4SUs)Baddeley, Adam. "The AMR Regional Air Force Directory 2011." Asian Military Review, February 2011. Retrieved: 11 July 2011. were originally scheduled to retire in 2007,"A-4 Republic of Singapore Air Force." Skyhawk.org. Retrieved: 21 July 2011. but remained in service until the delivery of their replacement, the Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Master, which was scheduled for 2012.Ramesh, S. "MINDEF awards contract to ST Aerospace to acquire 12 M-346 aircraft." MediaCorp Channel NewsAsia, 28 September 2010. Retrieved: 2 November 2010."Alenia Aermacchi's M-346 wins Singapore jet trainer race." Jane's Information Group, 12 July 2010. Retrieved: 16 July 2010.

After 31 years of operations, the RSAF officially withdrew its A-4SU fleet from front line duties on 31 March 2005. Major feats included a direct flight from Singapore to the Philippines (involving the RSAF's first air-to-air refuelling mission) in 1986,"RSAF's first air-to-air refuelling." sg.geocities.com, 23 October 2009. Retrieved: 21 July 2011. as well as the aerobatic displays of the 'red and white' A-4SUs flown by the RSAF's Black Knights during Asian Aerospace 1990, 1994 and 2000, it was last used by the Black Knights during Singapore's National Day Parade held on 9 August 2000. A month before its retirement, the Skyhawk squadron (145 Squadron) won the top honours in a strike exercise against its more modern F-16 and F-5 counterparts and emerged as the Top combat squadron in the Singapore Armed Forces Best Unit Competition, an honour it has held since year 2000."The SAF's Best Combat Units." MINDEF, 21 June 2000. Retrieved: 13 July 2010.

On 5 October 2005, one A-4SU was delivered to Singapore Polytechnic as a teaching aid."Super Skyhawk Touches down at Singapore Polytechnic." Singapore Polytechnic, 2005. Retrieved: 21 July 2011. Subsequently, Ngee Ann Polytechnic,"Ngee Ann Polytechnic received a A-4SU Super Skyhawk donated by The RSAF." Ngee Ann Polytechnic, 2005. Retrieved: 21 July 2011. Temasek Polytechnic and Nanyang Technological University each received an A-4SU as well. Two A-4SUs were donated to the French Air and Space Museum (Musée de l'Air) for static display;"Retired RSAF Super Skyhawks Find New Home in French Museum." MINDEF, 12 January 2006. Retrieved: 13 July 2010. only 928 has been on display in the museum's Rosette Hall as 941 was stored.

Variants A-4SU Super Skyhawk Upgraded from A-4S-1. TA-4SU Super Skyhawk Upgraded from TA-4S and TA-4S-1 trainer.

Operators

Republic of Singapore Air Force 142 Squadron: last operational RSAF squadron to operate the Super Skyhawks, disbanded on 1 April 2005 but was subsequently reformed in 2015 to operate the F-15SG. 143 Squadron: disbanded in 1997 after handing over its remaining aircraft to 150 Sqn, subsequently reformed in 2003 to operate the F-16C/Ds. 145 Squadron: converted to F-16D+ in 2004. 150 Squadron: converted to M-346 in 2012. The RSAF Black Knights aerobatic team operated the A-4SU from 1990 to 2000, they switched to an all F-16C six-ship formation for their performance during the 2008 Singapore Airshow.

Aircraft on display

A-4S (600) BuNo 142850, static display at Singapore Discovery Centre. A-4S (690) BuNo 144979, static display at SAFTI Military Institute. A-4S (607) BuNo 145013, static display at Singapore Air Force Museum. TA-4S (651) BuNo 145047 (forward fuselage section and cockpit), static display at Singapore Air Force Museum. A-4SU (928) BuNo 147797, static display at the French Aerospace Museum in Paris, while another A-4SU (941) BuNo 145071, was stored. A-4SU (929) BuNo 145073, gate guardian at Singapore Air Force Museum. TA-4SU (900) BuNo 147742, static display at Singapore Air Force Museum.

Specifications (A-4SU)

ST Aerospace A-4SU Super Skyhawk

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