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.[3]

A-4SU Super Skyhawk
A 150 Sqn A-4SU (957) at RAF Waddington during the Waddington International Air Show, 2000
Role Fighter-bomber, Advanced jet trainer
Manufacturer Douglas Aircraft Company
Lockheed Aircraft Services[1]
Singapore Aircraft Industries
(SAI, now ST Aerospace)
First flight 19 September 1986
Introduction 1989
Retired 2012
Status Retired
Primary user Republic of Singapore Air Force
Number built ~150[2]
Developed from Douglas A-4 Skyhawk

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 ordered and was subsequently requisitioned from the Military Aircraft Storage and Disposition Center (MASDC) at Davis–Monthan AFB, Arizona which was released to the Lockheed Aircraft Service (LAS) Company at Ontario, California, and its subsidiary Lockheed Aircraft Service Singapore (LASS) at Seletar Airfield, Singapore for a major overhaul and refurbishment.[1]

Stepped cockpit layout of a TA-4SU (900). The row of vortex generators on the drooped leading edge slats and the ram-air intake mounted on the portside for engine cooling, are unique to the TA-4SU. The chrome-plated muzzle brake of the Colt Mk.12 cannon is also visible.

These aircraft would later emerge 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 slightly 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 30 mm (1.18 in) 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.[1][4]

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 28-inch (710 mm) 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). As such converted/rebuilt airframes, these 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 used by the purpose-built TA-4E/Fs tandem-seaters from Douglas assembly line; this was the main reason why the RSAF decided to not procure the TA-4E/Fs (if indeed an order was placed) and then having to maintain two different engines to power essentially the same aircraft type (a scenario not unlike having a fleet within a fleet).[4]

All of the single-seaters were later retired when the upgraded A-4SU began to enter service, the twin-seaters were upgraded instead and remained in service.[4]

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 was to remain 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 20 mm (0.787 in) Colt Mk 12 cannons of the A-4Cs.[4]

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).[4]

A-4SU and TA-4SU Super Skyhawk
A full scale TA-4SU mock-up on display at the stand of Singapore Aircraft Industries (SAI) at the 1988 Asian Aerospace exhibition

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 reveal that although there was plenty of fuselage life left, the Wright J65 turbojet engines in use by the Skyhawks was 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.[4]

With SAI contracted as the main contractor for the upgrading project and a non-afterburning General Electric F404-GE-100D turbofan engine selected as the new engine, the upgrading project would later be extended to cover the entire fleet of newer A-4S-1s as well as taking the opportunity to completely modernize the avionics package (newly installed equipment now included a Pave Penny laser seeker mounted in the nose, an Inertial navigation system (INS), a Tactical air navigation system (TACAN), fore & aft Radar warning receivers (RWR) and chaff/flare countermeasures) of the aircraft.[4]

The modernized A-4SU and TA-4SU versions with its new F404 turbofan engine 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 610 knots (1,130 km/h; 700 mph), and maximum cruise speed at 30,000 feet (9,100 m) is 446 knots (826 km/h; 513 mph).[4][5]

Operational history
Head on profile of an A-4SU Super Skyhawk, note the cranked refuelling probe, the drooped leading edge slats as well as the ram-air intake. Also, inert AIM-9 Sidewinders painted in blue are carried on the outboard pylons.

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).[6][7]

From 1982 A-4S-1 and TA-4S-1 Skyhawks would join the RSAF as attrition replacements with the balance being allocated in 1984 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).[6][7]

In total, approximately 150 airframes (all A-4Bs and Cs) were acquired by Singapore.[2]

The modernized A-4SU Super Skyhawks were received by 143 Squadron first, 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.[6][8][9]

End of front-line service
One TA-4SU leading Two A-4SU Super Skyhawks on the flight line at Korat AB, Thailand, during Exercise Cope Tiger '02.

After 31 years of operations, the RSAF officially withdrew its fleet of A-4SU Super Skyhawks from operational combat service in Singapore on 31 March 2005. The A-4SU's achievements included flying directly from Singapore to the Philippines, incorporating the RSAF's first air-to-air refuelling mission in 1986,[10] as well as the aerobatic display of the 'red and white' Super Skyhawks flown by the RSAF 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.[11]

On 5 October 2005, one A-4SU Skyhawk was delivered to Singapore Polytechnic as a teaching aid.[12][13] Subsequently, Ngee Ann Polytechnic,[13][14] Temasek Polytechnic[15] and Nanyang Technological University would each receive an A-4SU Skyhawk as well.[13]

Two of the retired A-4SU Super Skyhawks were also donated to the French Air and Space Museum (Musée de l'Air) for static display. On 12 January 2006, a Certificate of Transfer and Acceptance signing ceremony took place between representatives of the RSAF and the French Aeronautics Museum at Cazaux Air Base in France.[13] Since then, only 928 was put on display in the Rosette Hall of the museum while 941 was stored.[16][17]

Secondary role
TA-4SU (933) on the flightline of Cazaux Air Base in 2004

In 1998, the French government offered the use of facilities at Cazaux Air Base. A 25-year lease for basing rights of 18 A-4SU aircraft and approximately 250 RSAF personnel and their families was signed later that year. Back in Singapore, 143 Squadron was disbanded in 1997, and its aircraft were handed over to 150 Squadron, which had given up its SIAI-Marchetti SF.260 basic trainers.[3] The new squadron then took up the role of advanced jet training, using its aircraft as a lead-in fighter trainer for RSAF pilots. This made it the prime candidate for moving to France, and the first of 18 aircraft were "packed" and sent to France by ship in mid-1999 as part of the RSAF's Advanced Jet Training Program.[18] The 11 remaining training aircraft (4× A-4SU and 7× TA-4SU)[19] were originally scheduled to retire in 2007[20] but remained in service until the delivery of their replacement, the Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Master, which was scheduled for 2012.[21][22][23]

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

Operators
An A-4SU (974) belonging to 142 Sqn taking off from RTAFB Korat during Exercise COPE TIGER '02.
 Singapore

Aircraft on display
  • A-4S (600) BuNo 142850, static display at Singapore Discovery Centre.[25]
  • A-4S (690) BuNo 144979, static display at SAFTI Military Institute.[25]
  • A-4S (607) BuNo 145013, static display at RSAF Museum.[25]
  • TA-4S (651) BuNo 145047 (forward fuselage section and cockpit), static display at RSAF Museum.[25]
  • A-4SU (928) BuNo 147797, static display at the French Aerospace Museum in Paris,[16] while another A-4SU (941) BuNo 145071, was stored.[17]
  • A-4SU (929) BuNo 145073, gate guardian at RSAF Museum.[26]
  • TA-4SU (900) BuNo 147742, static display at RSAF Museum.[26]
A-4S (serial number 607) BuNo 145013, in the old livery of Singapore Air Defence Command (SADC, now RSAF). Note also the ADEN cannon mounted in the wingroot.
Static display fuselage of TA-4S (651) BuNo 145047, as built by Lockheed Aircraft Services (LAS).
A-4SU (929) BuNo 145073, mounted gate guard outside the museum.
TA-4SU (900) BuNo 147742, with buddy refuelling pack attached under the centre-line pylon.
Retired Skyhawks at RSAF Museum

Specifications (A-4SU)
A-4SU Super Skyhawk patch as worn by qualified RSAF pilots.

Data from International Directory of Military Aircraft,[4] Skyhawk.Org[5]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1 (2 in TA-4SU, student and instructor)
  • Length: 12.72 m (41 ft 9 in)
  • Wingspan: 8.38 m (27 ft 6 in)
  • Height: 4.57 m (15 ft 0 in)
  • Wing area: 24.1 m2 (259.8 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 4,650 kg (10,250 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 10,205 kg (22,500 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × General Electric F404-GE-100D turbofan, 48.4 kN (10,800 lbf) thrust

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 1,128 km/h (701 mph, 609 kn)
  • Ferry range: 3,220 km (2,000 mi, 1,700 nmi) with 3 drop tanks
  • Service ceiling: 12,192 m (40,000 ft)
  • Rate of climb: 55 m/s (10,913 ft/min)
  • Wing loading: 344.4 kg/m2 (70.7 lb/sq ft)
  • Thrust/weight: 0.55

Armament

Avionics

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References
Notes
  1. "Singapore Servicing." Flight International, 1972 (archived at Flightglobal.com) (Reed Business Information). Retrieved: 4 February 2011.
  2. "Douglas A-4 Skyhawk Production History : Singapore A-4S/A-4SU". a4skyhawk.org. 2012. Archived from the original on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 8 March 2012.
  3. "Inauguration of the 150 Squadron Building in Cazaux Air Base, France." Singaporean Ministry of Defence, 24 July 2002. Retrieved: 13 July 2010.
  4. Frawley 2002, p. 155.
  5. "A-4 Technical data." Skyhawk.org. Retrieved: 21 July 2011.
  6. "Republic of Singapore Air Force". a4skyhawk.org. 2012. Archived from the original on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 8 March 2012.
  7. Also, please refer to section "Aircraft on display" for additional reference.
  8. Gail Wan (10 January 2008). "RSAF Black Knights all ready to wow spectators at Singapore Airshow". Pioneer. MINDEF. ISSN 0048-4199. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  9. "Black Knights - History". MINDEF. 24 April 2010. Retrieved 8 March 2012.
  10. "RSAF's first air-to-air refuelling." sg.geocities.com, 23 October 2009. Retrieved: 21 July 2011.
  11. "The SAF's Best Combat Units." MINDEF, 21 June 2000. Retrieved: 13 July 2010.
  12. "Super Skyhawk Touches down at Singapore Polytechnic." Archived 5 August 2012 at Archive.today Singapore Polytechnic, 2005. Retrieved: 21 July 2011.
  13. "Retired RSAF Super Skyhawks Find New Home in French Museum." MINDEF, 12 January 2006. Retrieved: 13 July 2010.
  14. "Ngee Ann Polytechnic received a A-4SU Super Skyhawk donated by The RSAF." Ngee Ann Polytechnic, 2005. Retrieved: 21 July 2011.
  15. "School of Engineering: Diploma in Aerospace Electronics". Temasek Polytechnic. Archived from the original on 24 October 2013. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
  16. Pierre-Clement Got (15 March 2010). "Picture of the Douglas A-4SU Skyhawk aircraft". Airliners.Net. Retrieved 5 June 2012.
  17. "Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace: Stored Dugny". AviationMuseum.Eu. 4 December 2011. Retrieved 5 June 2012.
  18. "RADM (NS) Teo Inaugurates RSAF’s Advanced Jet Training Facilities at Cazaux." MINDEF, 24 July 2002. Retrieved: 13 July 2010.
  19. Baddeley, Adam. "The AMR Regional Air Force Directory 2011." Archived 28 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine Asian Military Review, February 2011. Retrieved: 11 July 2011.
  20. "A-4 Republic of Singapore Air Force." Skyhawk.org. Retrieved: 21 July 2011.
  21. Ramesh, S. "MINDEF awards contract to ST Aerospace to acquire 12 M-346 aircraft." MediaCorp Channel NewsAsia, 28 September 2010. Retrieved: 2 November 2010.
  22. "Alenia Aermacchi's M-346 wins Singapore jet trainer race." Jane's Information Group, 12 July 2010. Retrieved: 16 July 2010.
  23. Govindasamy, Siva. "Singapore to announce M-346 trainer selection." Flightglobal.com, 8 July 2010. Retrieved: 16 July 2010.
  24. "The RSAF Inaugurates the M-346 into 150 Squadron". www.mindef.gov.sg. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  25. "US Navy and US Marine Corps BuNos Third Series (140053 to 145061)". Joe Baugher. 27 November 2011. Retrieved 8 March 2012.
  26. "US Navy and US Marine Corps BuNos Third Series (145062 to 150138)". Joe Baugher. 27 November 2011. Retrieved 8 March 2012.
  27. Parsch, Andreas. "AN/APQ - Equipment Listing." Designation-Systems.Net, 1 July 2007. Retrieved: 13 July 2010.
Bibliography
  • Frawley, Gerard. The International Directory of Military Aircraft. Fyshwick, Australian Capital Territory, Australia: Aerospace Publications Pty Ltd., 2002. ISBN 1-875671-55-2.
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