Watch This Crazy Video Of An A-4 Running For Its Life At Low-Level From A Menacing F-22

Updated Dec 5, 2017 4:41 AM EST

Draken International

Once in a while we are be blessed with an awesome video or picture taken from the Nellis Range Complex. Sometimes it is of secretive aircraft undergoing testing, or a B-1B screaming through the mountainous terrain at low level. But in this case it’s something really special—watch the world’s most capable fighter run down a diminutive A-4 Skyhawk as it turns and burns at very low-level in an attempt to save itself from seemingly certain death.

This video may look like a “found footage” reel from Top Gun, but it also has a real wildlife documentary feel to it. These jets could just as well be a sparrow and a falcon, a mongoose and a viper, or a cheetah and a zebra, going about their life and death business in the animal kingdom. It’s candid and ultra aggressive and intoxicatingly exciting. The second that A-4 breaks the ridge, it really is a real-world holy shit moment.

The A-4 shown is an ex-Kiwi A-4K now flown by Draken International. The A-4 is a classic adversary aircraft (read all about how they were flown against U.S. Navy fighter crews back in the ’80s in this special feature ), but the A-4Ks are among the most advanced “Scooters” ever built.

They feature a version of the F-16A/B’s AN/APG-66 pulse doppler radar, mutli-function displays, radar warning receiver, modern weapons and stores interfaces, as well as a HUD and a hands-on throttle and stick (HOTAS) cockpit arrangement. Draken International has become deeply embedded into the adversary program at Nellis AFB, and are often seen flying out on Weapons School, Red Flag, or other missions toting AIM-9L/M Sidewinder captive training rounds and electronic warfare pods. You can read all about Draken’s A-4Ks and their role at Nellis AFB in this past article of mine.

Draken’s gorgeous A-4Ks. , Draken International /Frank Crebas-Bluelife Aviatio n

Back to the video: It’s not entirely clear if one Raptor was orbiting waiting as another F-22 drove the fleeing A-4 towards his wingman—a classic predatory trap—or just one F-22 was present and it waited for the Skyhawk to come into range before dropping behind him and killing him. Of special note is the F-22 can be seen opening its Sidewinder bay doors briefly at around the :27 mark. This wasn’t for a shot, so it may have been testing to make sure they are ready to go when the time comes.

If anything, the video acts as a reminder that the F-22 community is willing and able to get down and dirty if the opportunity presents itself, and no, their mission is not all about long-range, beyond visual range volleys off missiles.

Fox two! Splash one!

Draken International Facebook Page

Hat Tip to 8081rt who did great work keeping up with the sudden action, and make sure to check out all their videos at this link , there’s some awesome ones on their channel. Also a thanks to our good friend and PDX photo extraordinaire Sabian404 for the heads up. Make sure to check out his Flickr page here, you won’t be disappointed!

Contact the author: Tyler@thedrive.com

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更新于美国东部时间2017年12月5日凌晨4:41。

德拉肯国际

我们偶尔会有幸看到一些从内利斯靶场拍摄的精彩视频或照片。有时是正在进行测试的神秘飞机，有时是B-1B轰炸机低空掠过山地。但这次的画面却格外特别——看看世界上最强大的战斗机是如何追击一架小巧的A-4“天鹰”攻击机的，后者在极低空转弯燃烧，试图从看似必死的命运中逃脱。

这段视频乍一看像是《壮志凌云》的“伪纪录片”片段，但同时也散发着野生动物纪录片的氛围。这些喷气式飞机就像麻雀和猎鹰、獴和蝰蛇，或是猎豹和斑马，在动物王国中上演着生死搏斗。画面真实、极具冲击力，令人兴奋不已。A-4 突破山脊的那一刻，真是令人叹为观止。

图中这架A-4是原新西兰空军的A-4K，现由德拉肯国际公司运营。A-4是一款经典的假想敌飞机（详见这篇专题报道，了解它在20世纪80年代如何与美国海军战斗机机组进行对抗），而A-4K则是迄今为止建造的最先进的“滑板车”之一。

它们配备了F-16A/B的AN/APG-66脉冲多普勒雷达、多功能显示器、雷达告警接收器、现代化的武器和挂载接口，以及平视显示器（HUD）和手不离杆操纵系统（HOTAS）。德拉肯国际公司已深度参与内利斯空军基地的假想敌项目，经常可以看到它们携带AIM-9L/M“响尾蛇”导弹训练弹和电子战吊舱，执行武器学校、红旗军演或其他任务。您可以在我之前的文章中详细了解德拉肯公司的A-4K及其在内利斯空军基地的角色。

德拉肯公司出品的精美A-4K攻击机。，德拉肯国际/弗兰克·克雷巴斯-蓝生命航空

回到视频：目前尚不完全清楚，当时是一架猛禽战机盘旋等待，另一架F-22战机则将逃跑的A-4攻击机逼向其僚机——这是一种典型的捕食陷阱——还是只有一架F-22战机在场，等待天鹰战机进入射程后从其后方俯冲将其击落。特别值得注意的是，在视频大约27秒处，可以看到F-22战机短暂地打开了响尾蛇导弹舱门。这并非为了发射导弹，因此可能是在进行测试，以确保弹舱门在需要时能够正常运作。

如果说这段视频有什么意义的话，那就是它提醒我们，F-22 战机部队如果有机会，也愿意并且能够深入敌阵执行任务；而且，他们的任务不仅仅是发射导弹进行远程、超视距射击。

狐狸二号！泼水一号！

德拉肯国际脸书页面

特别感谢 8081rt，他出色地捕捉到了突发事件，一定要点击这个链接查看他的所有视频，他的频道里有很多精彩的作品。还要感谢我们的好朋友、波特兰摄影大师 Sabian404 提供的消息。一定要去看看他的 Flickr 主页，绝对不会让你失望！

联系作者：Tyler@thedrive.com

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