The TA-4H Skyhawk, also designated “Ayit” (Eagle) by the Israeli Air Force (IAF), was the two-seat training and operational variant of the Skyhawk family, developed to complement Israel’s single-seat A-4 fleet during the 1970s and 1980s. Based on the TA-4F airframe, the TA-4H combined the proven reliability of the Douglas A-4 with extensive Israeli modifications, allowing it to function not only as an advanced trainer but also as a fully combat-capable aircraft.
Powered by the Pratt & Whitney J52 turbojet engine, the TA-4H offered performance closely matching that of its single-seat counterparts, with excellent handling characteristics and low operating costs. The tandem two-seat cockpit enabled effective pilot training, weapons instruction, and mission conversion, while retaining the ability to conduct operational sorties when required.
Like other Israeli Skyhawk variants, the TA-4H was equipped with Israeli-developed avionics, including upgraded navigation and attack systems, improved communication equipment, and mission-specific electronics. Despite its training role, the aircraft could carry a substantial weapons load on five external hardpoints, supporting a wide range of unguided bombs, rockets, and air-to-ground munitions. Some aircraft retained internal 20 mm cannons, further enhancing their combat utility.
The TA-4H saw operational use in major conflicts such as the Yom Kippur War (1973) and later regional operations, where it was employed in close air support, strike training, and secondary attack missions. Its robustness and adaptability allowed it to operate from austere and forward airstrips, a key requirement of Israeli air doctrine.
Key Features of the TA-4H “Ayit”:
Two-seat configuration for advanced training, operational conversion, and combat instruction.
Israeli avionics upgrades, including improved navigation, attack systems, and communications.
Combat-capable airframe, able to carry a wide range of air-to-ground weapons on five hardpoints.
Rugged design, optimized for high sortie rates and operations from rough or dispersed air bases.
The TA-4H Skyhawk played a vital role in sustaining the effectiveness of the IAF’s attack and close-support forces, ensuring a steady pipeline of trained pilots while remaining a capable and dependable combat asset in its own right.

Controls:
AG1: Jettison fuel tank
AG2: Jettison bomb
AG6: Extend parachute
AG7: Extend tail hook
AG8: Light
VTOL: Flaps
Trim: Elevator Trim