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A-10 Thunderbolt)
| 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 specially designed for close air support of ground forces. This simple, effective and survivable twin-engine jet aircraft can be used against all ground targets, including tanks and other armored vehicles.
The A-10/OA-10 have excellent maneuverability at low air speeds and altitude, and are highly accurate weapons-delivery platforms. 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. Their wide combat radius and short takeoff and landing capability permit operations in and out of locations near front lines. Using night vision goggles, A-10/OA-10 pilots can conduct their missions during darkness.
It is able to fly at a relatively slow speed of 200 mph, which gives it an advantage in battlefields.
Thunderbolt IIs have Night Vision Imaging Systems (NVIS), goggle compatible single-seat cockpits forward of their wings and a large bubble canopy which provides pilots all-around vision. The pilots are 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 redundant primary structural sections allow the aircraft to enjoy better survivability during close air support than did previous aircraft.
The aircraft can survive direct hits from armor-piercing and high explosive projectiles up to 23 mm. Their self-sealing fuel cells are protected by internal and external foam and are designed not to explode if shot. Manual systems back up their redundant hydraulic flight-control systems. This permits pilots to fly and land when hydraulic power or a wing is lost.
The Thunderbolt II can be serviced and operated from bases with limited facilities near battle areas. Many of the aircraft's parts are interchangeable left and right, including the engines, main landing gear and vertical stabilizers.
Avionics equipment includes communications, inertial navigation systems, fire control and weapons delivery systems, target penetration aids and night vision goggles. Their weapons delivery systems include heads-up displays that indicate airspeed, altitude, dive angle, navigation information and weapons aiming references; a low altitude safety and targeting enhancement system (LASTE) which provides constantly computing impact point free-fall ordnance delivery; and Pave Penny laser-tracking pods under the fuselage. The aircraft also have armament control panels, and infrared and electronic countermeasures to handle surface-to-air missile threats. Installation of the Global Positioning System is currently underway for all aircraft.
The Thunderbolt II's 30 mm GAU-8/A Gatling gun fires at a rate of 3,900 rounds per minute and can defeat a wide array of ground targets up to and including heavily armored main battle tanks. Some of their other equipment includes an inertial navigation system, electronic countermeasures, target penetration aids, self-protection systems, and AGM-65 Maverick and AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles.
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.
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.
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 seven-barrel Gatling gun; up to 16,000 pounds (7,200 kg) of mixed ordnance on eight under-wing and three under-fuselage pylon stations, including 500 pounds (225 kg) of Mk-82 and 2,000 pounds (900 kg) of Mk-84 series low/high drag bombs, incendiary cluster bombs, combined effects munitions, mine dispensing munitions, AGM-65 Maverick missiles and laser-guided/electro-optically guided bombs; infrared countermeasure flares; electronic countermeasure chaff; jammer pods; 2.75 inch (70 mm) rockets; illumination flares and AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles.
- 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
| | 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
|
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