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A-4 today
I was wondeirng, given the NZ government having problems with
Skyhawks, what made them so put off about them? I know they are older, but the Israelis really modified theirs and they seemed OK with precision weapons. Can the A-4 Skyhawk mount Harpoon missiles? If not I would guess that Penguin or something like that would be doable. With a good mix of fuel tanks and underwing missiles I could see the A-4 giving the New Zealanders a good quick-reaction capability over a very good range. Are the Kiwis planning to replace the A-4 with a new attack jet type due to expense and maintenance or are they just making the decision they don't need that type of craft for their defensive needs? At any rate A-4s being used as aggressors for training today is still pretty cool after about 50 or so years of Skyhawk service. David |
#2
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A-4 today
On Sep 10, 3:28*pm, "David E. Powell"
wrote: I was wondeirng, given the NZ government having problems with Skyhawks, what made them so put off about them? I know they are older, but the Israelis really modified theirs and they seemed OK with precision weapons. Can the A-4 Skyhawk mount Harpoon missiles? If not I would guess that Penguin or something like that would be doable. With a good mix of fuel tanks and underwing missiles I could see the A-4 giving the New Zealanders a good quick-reaction capability over a very good range. Are the Kiwis planning to replace the A-4 with a new attack jet type due to expense and maintenance or are they just making the decision they don't need that type of craft for their defensive needs? At any rate A-4s being used as aggressors for training today is still pretty cool after about 50 or so years of Skyhawk service. With the disposal of the A-4s and the Aermacchis, the RNZAF would appear to have gone from an air force to an air service. However, their Orions and Sea Sprites remain combat-capable. In 2007, I saw RNZAF personnel working in the Persian Gulf supporting coalition maritime patrol ops. -- Andrew Chaplin SIT MIHI GLADIUS SICUT SANCTO MARTINO |
#3
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A-4 today
On Sep 10, 12:28*pm, "David E. Powell"
wrote: I was wondeirng, given the NZ government having problems with Skyhawks, what made them so put off about them? I know they are older, but the Israelis really modified theirs and they seemed OK with precision weapons. Can the A-4 Skyhawk mount Harpoon missiles? If not I would guess that Penguin or something like that would be doable. With a good mix of fuel tanks and underwing missiles I could see the A-4 giving the New Zealanders a good quick-reaction capability over a very good range. "Israeli Phantoms and Skyhawks were armed with the Gabriel Mk 3, an active radar-seeking variant of the Israeli developed anti-ship missile. " Source: http://www.global-defence.com/2003/anti_ship.htm David |
#4
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A-4 today
David E. Powell wrote:
I was wondeirng, given the NZ government having problems with Skyhawks, what made them so put off about them? I know they are older, but the Israelis really modified theirs and they seemed OK with precision weapons. Can the A-4 Skyhawk mount Harpoon missiles? If not I would guess that Penguin or something like that would be doable. With a good mix of fuel tanks and underwing missiles I could see the A-4 giving the New Zealanders a good quick-reaction capability over a very good range. Are the Kiwis planning to replace the A-4 with a new attack jet type due to expense and maintenance or are they just making the decision they don't need that type of craft for their defensive needs? At any rate A-4s being used as aggressors for training today is still pretty cool after about 50 or so years of Skyhawk service. David New Zealand's Labour government has retired both the A-4's and their Aermacchi MB-339's as well as canceled an order for F-16's because they decided to retire all of their combat jets in favor of transport aircraft. So the country has converted the RNZAF from an air force into an air freight service. ALV |
#5
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A-4 today
On Sep 10, 5:24*pm, wrote:
On Sep 10, 12:28*pm, "David E. Powell" wrote: I was wondeirng, given the NZ government having problems with Skyhawks, what made them so put off about them? I know they are older, but the Israelis really modified theirs and they seemed OK with precision weapons. Can the A-4 Skyhawk mount Harpoon missiles? If not I would guess that Penguin or something like that would be doable. With a good mix of fuel tanks and underwing missiles I could see the A-4 giving the New Zealanders a good quick-reaction capability over a very good range. "Israeli Phantoms and Skyhawks were armed with the Gabriel Mk 3, an active radar-seeking variant of the Israeli developed anti-ship missile. " Source: http://www.global-defence.com/2003/anti_ship.htm OK. That'll make a dent..... David- |
#6
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A-4 today
On Sep 10, 3:39*pm, Andrew Chaplin wrote:
On Sep 10, 3:28*pm, "David E. Powell" wrote: I was wondeirng, given the NZ government having problems with Skyhawks, what made them so put off about them? I know they are older, but the Israelis really modified theirs and they seemed OK with precision weapons. Can the A-4 Skyhawk mount Harpoon missiles? If not I would guess that Penguin or something like that would be doable. With a good mix of fuel tanks and underwing missiles I could see the A-4 giving the New Zealanders a good quick-reaction capability over a very good range. Are the Kiwis planning to replace the A-4 with a new attack jet type due to expense and maintenance or are they just making the decision they don't need that type of craft for their defensive needs? At any rate A-4s being used as aggressors for training today is still pretty cool after about 50 or so years of Skyhawk service. With the disposal of the A-4s and the Aermacchis, the RNZAF would appear to have gone from an air force to an air service. However, their Orions and Sea Sprites remain combat-capable. In 2007, I saw RNZAF personnel working in the Persian Gulf supporting coalition maritime patrol ops. The patrol stuff allows crossover to search and rescue as well, and if they aren't worried about fighters or other modern threats, the helicopters and Orions can carry missiles and antisub stuff. I agree it is kind of sad they are phasing out all the fast stuff. Didn't they have some mutual force plan with Australia a few years back for their air forces? -- Andrew Chaplin SIT MIHI GLADIUS SICUT SANCTO MARTINO |
#7
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A-4 today
David E. Powell wrote:
On Sep 10, 3:39 pm, Andrew Chaplin wrote: I agree it is kind of sad they are phasing out all the fast stuff. Didn't they have some mutual force plan with Australia a few years back for their air forces? -- Andrew Chaplin SIT MIHI GLADIUS SICUT SANCTO MARTIN O While I share your thoughts, NEw Zealand is kinda of in a nice neighborhood to be in. No natural enemies. Not much worth invading for (mostly sheep in NZ). Friends with folks with big guns ( US, UK, Aussies). |
#9
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A-4 today
On Sep 11, 7:28*am, "David E. Powell"
wrote: I was wondeirng, given the NZ government having problems with Skyhawks, what made them so put off about them? I know they are older, but the Israelis really modified theirs and they seemed OK with precision weapons. Can the A-4 Skyhawk mount Harpoon missiles? If not I would guess that Penguin or something like that would be doable. They had been upgraded to use IR Mavericks in the anti-shipping role. History in RNZAF service http://www.kiwiaircraftimages.com/skyhawk.html "The updated installation provides HOTAS and a 'glass' cockpit (2 large CRT screens), new HUD, APG-66 radar aquisition and tracking (as per the F16), and a ring laser gyro inertial navigation system, as well as upgraded VOR/ILS equipment and the provision of chaff/flare dispensers. Parts of the wings were reskinned and some structural elements rebuilt, and the aircraft wiring replaced. The weapons capability now includes AIM-9G/L and AGM-65B." snip Errol Cavit | Tomb of the Unknown Warrior, NZ The great pain we feel / Is for you who were our future Comeback return home, / We have waited for you Through the long years / You were away Sorrow / Aches within me |
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