The RNZAF McDonnell Douglas A-4K Skyhawk 1970 – 1997
	Project Kahu Also .announced in the 1983 Defence Review was the upgrading of the existing and ‘new’ additions to the Skyhawk fleet under an ambitious project code named – Project Kahu. In March 1984 a request for tenders was issued, a change in Government and subsequent changes in the relationship with Americans however meant that it as not until early 1986 that the contract was awarded to Smith’s Industries SLI Avionics Systems Corp. The Kahu upgrade involved the replacement of the aircraft’s 1960’s vintage systems with a new avionics suite equal to the most modern aircraft in production. At the same time the aircraft were fitted with zero-lifed wings, new spars and given a structural refurbishment. New equipment included: Westinghouse APG-66NZ multi-mode radar Smith’s Industries Navigation / Attack system Ferranti wide angle HUD State of the art instrumentation including two multi-function displays HOTAS ARN-118 TACAN VIR130 VOR/ILS ARC-182 UHF/VHF Arc-159 UHF Laser ring gyro INS General Instrument ALR-66 radar warning receivers Loral ALE-39 chaff and flair dispensers On Thursday 2 June 1988 the prototype Skyhawk NZ 6254 was unveiled at an official ceremony at Base Woodbourne, with the first flight, a test flight of 45 minutes duration on June 8 at 3:45pm. This flight was flown by newly qualified test pilot FLTLT Steve Moore. A second single seat prototype followed (NZ 6205) and following the completion of a series of trials on these two aircraft work on the upgrade of the rest of the fleet commenced at the Safe Air facility in Blenheim. Six aircraft being drawn from the operational squadrons and worked on at a time. Also included in the package was an upgrade in the weapons suite that included: o the AIM-9L Sidewinder, o GBU-16 Laser Guided Bomb o the AGM-65 Maverick family These new weapons greatly improving the talons of the new hawk, with the first demonstration of the new strike capability being very successfully completed in the Waiouru training area in April 1989 with firings of Maverick missiles from both prototype Skyhawks. The Mavericks used in this demonstration were the 'B' TV guided version; however the upgraded system does allow the firing of any of the Maverick missiles. NZ 6254 Test Fires a Maverick at Waiouru – RNZAF Official
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					Created : Saturday, 25 October 2008