GAVIÃO PEIXOTO, Brazil - Embraer Defense & Security has delivered the first modernized McDonnell Douglas A-4 Skyhawk (AF-1B in Brazilian service) to the Brazilian Navy. A ceremony marking the delivery was held on May 26 at Embraer's industrial plant in Gavião Peixoto, São Paulo.
Embraer will revitalize and modernize 12 of the Navy's AF-1s - nine AF-1 single-seaters and three AF-1A two-seaters.
The program includes the installation of new navigation, weapons, power, tactical communications, and sensor systems as well as new computers and multimode state-of-the art radar. Only the aircraft's airframe and engine will be retained. Brazil purchased 23 A-4s from Kuwait in 1998. However, the aircraft began to deteriorate rapidly and by May 2005, only two of the 23 were still flying. A contract for the modernization of 12 units was awarded to Embraer in 2009 and is valued at $140 million. The modernization is intended to keep the fighters in service until 2025.
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