Douglas A-4 Skyhawk Argentina 3D print model

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Argentina was the initial foreign adopter of the Skyhawk and had received nearly 130 A-4s since 1965. The Argentine Air Force received 25 A-4Bs in 1966 and another 25 in 1970, all refurbished in the United States by Lockheed Service Co. before being delivered as A-4P models, though they remained locally known as A-4B models. They had three weapon pylons and served with the 5th Air Brigade (Brigada Aeráa) since its formation. In 1976, 25 A-4Cs were ordered to replace the remaining F-86 Sabres in service within the 4th Air Brigade (IV Brigada Aérea). These aircraft were delivered and refurbished to flying status by Air Force technicians at Río Cuarto in Córdoba. The C model featured five weapon pylons and was equipped to use AIM-9B Sidewinder air-to-air missiles. The Argentine Skyhawk force saw significant action during the 1982 Malvinas War, deploying 48 warplanes (26 A-4B, 12 A-4C, and 10 A-4Q aircraft) from military bases on the mainland. Armed with unguided bombs but lacking any electronic or missile defensive capabilities, Argentine Air Force Skyhawks sank the Type 42 destroyer Coventry and the Type 21 frigate Antelope, in addition to inflicting heavy damage on several other vessels: RFA Sir Galahad, subsequently scuttled as a war grave; the Type 42 Glasgow; the Leander-class frigate Argonaut; the Type 22 frigate Broadsword; and RFA Sir Tristram. Argentine Navy A-4Qs based at Río Grande on Tierra del Fuego sank further British ships during bombing attacks, with a key success being the sinking of the Type 21 Ardent.