The A-4 Skyhawk, originally designed as a carrier-capable light attack aircraft in the 1950s, found a second life in the adversary role starting in the late 1960s. Its small size, maneuverability, and subsonic performance made it an ideal stand-in for simulating enemy aircraft, particularly Soviet fighters like the MiG-17 and MiG-21, during dissimilar air combat training (DACT). The U.S. Navy Fighter Weapons School, better known as "Topgun," began using the A-4 in 1969 to train pilots in air-to-air combat tactics, capitalizing on its tight turning radius and responsiveness to mimic the agility of these potential adversaries. Order
Markings presented in this decal:
- A-4E, 150044/55, NFWS, NAS Miramar, 1981.
- A-4F, 155025/NJ03, VF-127, NAS Fallon, August 1989.
- TA-4J, 153512/NJ611, VF-126, NAS Miramar, 1991.
- A-4M, 1060045/50, NFWS, NAS Miramar, 1993.
