How does the Argentinian A-4AR Fighting Hawk compare?

bubblewhip · by **bubblewhip** » 28 Jul 2016, 03:46

Was talking to a Brit the other day about their military readiness, and if they could deal with possible air threats from Argentina being out of any VTOL aircraft or aircraft carriers.

Did a looking up and found that since the Falkland Islands war Argentina purchased some "cheap and cheerful" A-4 SkyHawks retrofitted with F-16 fighting Falcon avionics.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_ ... ghtinghawk

Most of what I find on the internet of opinions are in Spanish so hard to tell what the attitudes are out there.

geforcerfx · by **geforcerfx** » 28 Jul 2016, 05:29

I believe the Falklands have 3 Typhoons with a 4th in spare usage. Going against about 12 of those A-4s. I would guess a 12-0 trade ratio, even with f-16 avionics the performance difference between the two types would be large. Typhoon can see them further, play EW games, and has more missiles and better ones as well(meteor). If things aren't looking good the Typhoon can get away and regroup.

thepointblank · by **thepointblank** » 28 Jul 2016, 11:25

It would be early F-16's variants, so no BVR capabilities, only AIM-9 capability.

southernphantom · by **southernphantom** » 28 Jul 2016, 22:19

As far as I know, all the A-4ARs are currently grounded. Argentina only has Pucaras and Pampa trainers airworthy anymore.

basher54321 · by **basher54321** » 28 Jul 2016, 22:43

Some recent on Janes:

The Argentine Air Force has informed the Ministry of Defence that it will be retiring its fleet of Lockheed Martin (McDonnell Douglas) A-4AR Fightinghawks by 2018 due to the scarcity of replacement parts and high maintenance costs.

The decision follows the recent retirement of the Dassault Mirage fleet (the only supersonic fighter in Argentina's inventory) and would leave the air force's combat capabilities limited to the FAdeA IA-63 Pampa armed trainer and IA-58 Pucara counter-insurgency aircraft, with the latter having issues with spare parts for its Astazou engines.

http://www.janes.com/article/57797/arge ... ew-engines

geforcerfx · by **geforcerfx** » 29 Jul 2016, 17:55

basher54321 wrote:Some recent on Janes:
[i]
The Argentine Air Force has informed the Ministry of Defence that it will be retiring its fleet of Lockheed Martin (McDonnell Douglas) A-4AR Fightinghawks by 2018 due to the scarcity of replacement parts and high maintenance costs.

I guess Draken might have some more A-4's int he fleet soon.