Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II

A-10 Thunderbolt II
A-10 Thunderbolt II
Description
Role	Close air support
Crew	One
Dimensions
Length	53 ft 4 in	16.16 m
Wingspan	57 ft 6 in	17.42 m
Height	14 ft 8 in	4.42 m
Wing area	506 ft²	47 m²
Weights
Empty	21,519 lb	9,761 kg
Loaded	32,730 lb	14,846 kg
Maximum take-off	51,000 lb	22,950 kg
Powerplant
Engines	Two General Electric TF34-GE-100 turbofans
Thrust	9,065 lbf each engine	40 kN
Performance
Maximum speed	420 mph	676 km/h
Combat range	620 mi	1,000 km
Ferry range	2,542 mi	4,091 km
Service ceiling	45,000 feet	13,636 m
Rate of climb	6,000 ft/min	1,828 m/min
Armament
Guns	One 30 mm GAU-8/A seven-barrel Gatling gun with 1,174 rounds
Bombs	Total load: 16,000 lb on 11 pylons	Total load: 7,257 kg on 11 pylons

The A-10/OA-10 Thunderbolt II, often known as the "Warthog," is the first US Air Force aircraft specifically designed for close air support of ground forces. It is a simple, effective and survivable single-seat, twin-engine jet aircraft designed to attack ground targets, including tanks and other armored vehicles.

The A-10/OA-10 have excellent maneuverability at low air speeds and altitude. They can loiter near battle areas for extended periods of time and operate under 1,000 foot (300 m) ceilings with 1.5 mile (2.4 km) visibility. The aircraft's wide, straight wings allow short takeoff and landing capability, permitting operations in and out of locations near front lines, excellent low-speed maneuverability, and long loiter time. It is able to fly at a relatively slow speed of 200 mph (320 km/h), which gives it an advantage in the ground-attack role, where fast fighter-bombers often have difficulty pursuing small and slow-moving ground targets.

The 'Warthog' is designed to be exceptionally robust, with a strong airframe and the ability to survive considerable battle damage. The aircraft can survive direct hits from armor-piercing and high-explosive projectiles up to 23 mm. Manual systems back up their redundant hydraulic flight-control systems. This permits pilots to fly and land when hydraulic power or part of a wing is lost. The self-sealing fuel cells are protected by fire-retardant foam to prevent fire and explosion. The cockpit is protected by 900 pounds (400 kg) of titanium armor (referred to as a "titanium bathtub") that also protects parts of the flight-control system.

The Thunderbolt II can be serviced and operated from bases with limited facilities near battle areas. An unusual feature is that many of the aircraft's parts are interchangeable left to right, including the engines, main landing gear, and vertical stabilizers.

The A-10 has been criticized for its minimal avionics fit. It was originally intended purely for close air support, for which it was felt that complex electronics would be unnecessary (and would have an undesirable effect on serviceability and cost). Initial fit provided basic communications, a radar-warning system, and TACAN navigation, early aircraft lacking even an autopilot. As USAF emphasis shifted towards the anti-armor role, presumably in a conflict with the Warsaw Pact in Western Europe, where weather is frequently poor, there was pressure for improved sensors and electronics. Fairchild-Republic offered a two-seat NAW (Night and Adverse Weather) variant beginning in 1977, but it was not adopted. Aircraft were eventually upgraded with inertial navigation and a Pave Penny laser sensor (marked target seeker) pod that allowed the pilot to direct laser-guided bombs against targets marked by friendly forces. The A-10 initially lacked any weapons delivery systems for rangefinding or the computation of impact points, greatly limiting its ability to deliver weapons other than cannon and rocket fire (in direct, visual-range attacks) or the self-guided AGM-65 Maverick missile, whose own sensors displayed imagery in the A-10's cockpit. Much later in the 'Warthog's' career, the Low-Altitude Safety and Targeting Enhancement (LASTE) upgrade finally provided computerized weapon-aiming equipment, an autopilot, and ground-collision warning system. The A-10 is now compatible with night-vision goggles for low-light operation. From 1999 surviving aircraft are being upgraded with GPS for improved navigation.

Although the A-10 can carry a considerable weight of disposable stores, its primary built-in weapon is the 30 mm GAU-8/A Gatling gun. The most powerful aircraft cannon ever flown, it fires large, depleted uranium armor-piercing shells at a rate of 3,900 rounds per minute. The massive shells and high muzzle velocity allow the Avenger to engage heavily armored main battle tanks. This gun is said to produce almost the same amount of force as one of the A-10's engines.

Despite the power of the GAU-8, the principal weapon of the A-10 is the AGM-65 Maverick air-to-surface missile, with electro-optical targeting. The Maverick allows targets to be engaged at much greater ranges than the cannon, a safer proposition in the face of modern anti-aircraft systems. Other weapons include cluster bombs, rocket pods, and napalm cannisters. Although the A-10 is equipped to deliver conventional and laser-guided bombs, their use is relatively uncommon. For self-defense, A-10s usually fly with an ECM pod under one wing and two AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles under the other.

An A-10 Thunderbolt in flight

The first production A-10A was delivered to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, in October 1975. It was designed specially for the close air support mission and had the ability to combine large military loads, long loiter and wide combat radius, which proved to be vital assets to the United States and its allies during Operation Desert Storm and Operation Noble Anvil. In the Gulf War, A-10s had a mission capable rate of 95.7 percent, flew 8,100 sorties and launched 90 percent of the AGM-65 Maverick missiles.

The A-10s were an unwelcome addition to the Air Force arsenal. Air Force officials prized the high-flying, high-performance F-15 and F-16 jets, and were determined to leave the dirty work of close air support to Army helicopters.

In the 1980s, military planners intended the A-10s to fly low, slow missions to counter divisions of Soviet tanks stationed in eastern Europe.

In 1991, the planes proved their mettle in the Persian Gulf War, destroying more than 1,000 tanks, 2,000 military vehicles and 1,200 artillery pieces. Five A-10s were shot down during the war, far fewer than military planners expected.

In the 1990s many A-10s were shifted to the forward air control (FAC) role and redesignated O/A-10. In the FAC role the 'Warthog' is typically equipped with up to six pods of 5 inch (127 mm) Zuni rockets, usually with smoke or white phosphorous warheads. They remain combat capable despite the designation.

The aircraft again saw service in the 1999 Kosovo War, but due to the rules of engagement imposed by the Clinton administration, which was worried about having an American aircraft shot down and thus possibly taking casualties, the aircraft did not perform well. During the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan A-10's did not take part in the initial stages. However, they were later based at Bagram air base and took part in subsequent operations, including Operation Anaconda in March 2002. Due to far less restrictive rules of engagement, the aircraft performed a great deal better than in 1999. Early in 2003, the aircraft saw service over Iraq again when America and Britain invaded the country and deposed Saddam Hussein. Sixty A-10s were deployed, and one was shot down near Baghdad International Airport by Iraqi fire late in the campaign.

The A-10 is scheduled to stay in service with the USAF until 2028, when it will be replaced by the Joint Strike Fighter.

Two A-10 Thunderbolts in flight

General Characteristics

• Primary Function: A-10 -- close air support, OA-10 - airborne forward air control
• Contractor: Fairchild Republic Corporation
• Power Plant: Two General Electric TF34-GE-100 turbofans
• Thrust: 9,065 lbf (40 kN) each engine
• Length: 53 ft 4 in (16.16 m)
• Height: 14 ft 8 in (4.42 m)
• Wingspan: 57 ft 6 in (17.42 m)
• Speed: 200 to 420 miles per hour (320 to 680 km/h)
• Ceiling: 45,000 feet (13,600 m)
• Maximum Takeoff Weight: 51,000 pounds (22,950 kg)
• Range: 800 miles (1,300 km)
• Armament: One 30 mm GAU-8/A Avenger seven-barrel Gatling gun; up to 12,000 lb (5,445 kg) (full internal fuel) or 16,000 lb (7,200 kg) (reduced internal fuel) of mixed ordnance on eight underwing and three under-fuselage pylon stations, including Mk 82 500 lb (227 kg), Mk 83 1,000 lb (454 kg), and Mk 84 2,000 lb (907 kg) general-purpose bombs, BLU-1 or BLU-27/B Rockeye II or CBU-52/71 cluster bombs, AGM-65 Maverick missiles, 2.75 in (70 mm) and 5 in (127 mm) rocket pods, illumination flares, ECM and chaff pods, and AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles for self-defense.
• Crew: One
• Date Deployed: March 1976
• Unit Cost: US$9.8 million
• Inventory: Active force, A-10, 143 and OA-10, 70; Reserve, A-10, 46 and OA-10, 6; ANG, A-10, 84 and OA-10, 18

Internet Links

• http://www.af.mil/news/factsheets/A_10_OA_10_Thunderbolt_II.html
• http://www.a-10.org/
• http://globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/a-10.htm

	Modern USAF Series	Miscellaneous
A-10 Thunderbolt II	Attack--OA/A-10,AC-130H/U	RC-135V/W
OA-10 Thunderbolt II	Bomber--B-52,-2,-1B,F-117A	OC-135B
AC-130H/U Gunship	Fighter--F-15/E ,F-16	KC-10,-135
	Electronic--E-3,-4B,-8C EC-130E/J,H	HC-130P/N
	Transport--C-5,-17,-141B, -20,-21	MC-130E/H/P
	C-22B, -32, -130, -37A, -40B/C	MH-53J/M
	Trainers--T-1, -37, -38, -43, -6	HH-60G
	Weather--WC-130, -135	UH-1N
	UAV--RQ-1/MQ-1 UAV, Global Hawk	U-2S/TU-2S
		VC-25

Current USAF aircraft - Attack
A-10 Thunderbolt II - OA-10 - AC-130H/U Gunship

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