Download and install the DCS A-4E-C Skyhawk mod correctly, with the right Saved Games folder, package checks and fixes when it will not appear.
Download the latest packaged A-4E-C Community release—not the repository’s source-code archive—extract it, and place the aircraft folder in %USERPROFILE%\Saved Games\DCS\Mods\aircraft\A-4E-C. Start DCS World and confirm the Skyhawk appears. Steam and standalone use the same Saved Games method, with no paid aircraft or licence activation required.
How to install the DCS A-4E-C Skyhawk mod
Use a clean manual installation rather than copying the mod into DCS World’s main program directory.
- Download the packaged release. Obtain the latest full release archive from the Community A-4E-C project’s official release channel. Avoid automatically generated source-code archives and individual repository files; they may omit compiled components needed by DCS.
- Unblock the archive if necessary. Before extraction, right-click the downloaded file, open Properties and select Unblock if Windows displays that option. Do not run the aircraft from inside the compressed archive. Our guide to extracting flight-simulator downloads correctly covers common archive and folder-nesting mistakes.
- Close DCS World. This prevents files being held open while the aircraft is copied or replaced.
- Find the active Saved Games profile. Most installations use
%USERPROFILE%\Saved Games\DCS. An older or separate profile may use%USERPROFILE%\Saved Games\DCS.openbeta. - Create the mod folders if absent. Inside the active DCS profile, create
Mods\aircraft. Folder names are not case-sensitive in Windows, but the structure must be correct. - Extract the aircraft folder. The finished installation should normally contain
Saved Games\DCS\Mods\aircraft\A-4E-C\entry.lua. Ifentry.luais another folder level down, move the inner A-4E-C folder up. - Start DCS World and test it. Open Options, select Controls and look for the A-4E-C in the aircraft list. You can then load an included mission or create a Mission Editor slot with its skill set to Player or Client.
Which DCS Saved Games folder should I use?
Install the A-4E-C in the Saved Games profile that DCS World actually updates, regardless of whether the simulator came from Steam or the standalone installer.
If both DCS and DCS.openbeta exist, launch DCS and then compare the timestamps of their Logs\dcs.log files. The profile containing the freshly updated log is the active one. Do not rename a working profile simply because its folder still says openbeta.
Do not place the community aircraft under the simulator’s installation directory in Program Files or a Steam library. For a fuller explanation of the Saved Games structure, see our DCS mod folder and installation checks.
Why does the A-4E-C not appear in DCS World?
An A-4E-C that does not appear is usually installed in the wrong profile, nested one folder too deeply or extracted from the wrong download package.
| Symptom | Likely cause and fix |
|---|---|
| No A-4E-C entry under Controls | Confirm that entry.lua is directly inside Mods\aircraft\A-4E-C and that the folder belongs to the active Saved Games profile. |
| The archive contains development files but no working aircraft | You probably downloaded a source-code archive. Delete it and obtain the packaged release asset intended for installation. |
| The aircraft appears under Controls but cannot be flown | The mod is loaded, but the mission may lack an A-4E-C slot. Set the aircraft’s Mission Editor skill to Player for single-player or Client for multiplayer. |
| The mod fails to load after extraction | Check whether Windows or security software blocked or quarantined a required file. Restore only files you trust from the official package; do not disable system-wide protection. |
| The mod stopped working after a DCS update | Install the latest compatible A-4E-C release as a clean replacement and review our steps for checking DCS mod compatibility after updates. |
| DCS errors began after files were copied into its core directory | Remove the misplaced community files, then repair or verify the DCS World installation before reinstalling the mod under Saved Games. |
How should I update the A-4E-C mod?
Update the A-4E-C by removing its old aircraft folder and extracting the new packaged release into the same location.
Do not merge a new release over old files unless its documentation explicitly requires that method; obsolete scripts can remain and cause faults that look like incompatibility. Control assignments are normally stored separately under the profile’s Config\Input directory, but back up customised bindings, liveries and edited mod files before replacing anything.
Can I fly the A-4E-C in DCS multiplayer?
You can fly the A-4E-C online when the server’s mission includes an A-4E-C Client slot and its rules permit the community aircraft.
Installing the mod does not add a Skyhawk slot to an existing mission. Other participants who need to operate or fully load the aircraft should use the compatible release specified by the mission host; mismatched versions can produce missing-unit or connection problems.