The Douglas A-4 Skyhawk is a carrier-capable ground-attack aircraft designed for the United States Navy and U.S. Marine Corps. The delta winged "Skyhawk", powered by a single turbojet was designed and produced by Douglas Aircraft Company (later McDonnell Douglas). The "Skyhawk" was originally designated the A4D under the US Navy's pre-1962 designation system.

The Skyhawk was designed by Douglas Aircraft's Ed Heinemann in response to a U.S. Navy call for a jet-powered attack aircraft to replace the older AD Skyraider. Heinemann opted for a design that would minimize its size, weight, and complexity. The result was an aircraft that weighed only half of the Navy's weight specification. It had a wing so compact that it did not need to be folded for carrier stowage. The diminutive Skyhawk soon received the nicknames "Scooter", "Kiddiecar", "Bantam Bomber", "Tinker Toy Bomber", and, on account of its nimble performance, "Heinemann's Hot-Rod".

Fifty years after the aircraft's first flight, and having played key roles in the Vietnam War, the Falklands War, and the Yom Kippur War, a few of the nearly 3,000 Skyhawks produced remain in service with several air arms around the world, including active duty on the aircraft carrier of the Brazilian Navy.

BAE Systems provides six A-4Ns as target tugs for the German Luftwaffe since 2001, replacing the F-100 Super Sabre. The Skyhawks are operated by the BAe subsidiary E.I.S. Aircraft GmbH at Wittmund.  The A-4N's are part of the 1991 contract with the Luftwaffe to supply visual target training for the F-4F Phantom and EF2000 Typhoon fighters. The A-4s are the unofficial 3^rd Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 71 Richthofen.