Basic Information

Name

A-10 Thunderbolt II (Warthog) American Close Air Support Aircraft

Designation

A-10

Alternate Designation

—

Equipment Type

—

Manufacturer

Fairchild-Republic, Farmingdale, Long Island, N.Y. and Lockheed Martin Systems, Owego, N.Y. (A-10C platform-wide upgrade)

Date of Introduction

1976

Description

The A-10 Thunderbolt II is the U.S. Air Force’s primary low-altitude close air support aircraft. The A-10 is perhaps best known for its fearsome GAU-8 Avenger 30mm Gatling gun mounted on the nose. The GAU-8 is designed to fire armor-piercing depleted uranium and high explosive incendiary rounds. The A-10 has excellent maneuverability at low air speeds and altitude, and is a highly accurate and survivable weapons-delivery platform. The aircraft can loiter near battle areas for extended periods of time and operate in low ceiling and visibility conditions. The 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 pilots can conduct their missions during darkness.

Air & Air Defense Specifications

Crew 1

Engine Turbofan x2 (4112 hp)

Max Speed 681.0 km/h

Range 460.0 km

Variants

A-10 (A-10A) First production model.

A-10 N/AW This was a company-funded two-seat prototype for the night/adverse weather (N/AW) mission. It featured a second, elevated seat for a weapons system officer (WSO); a Westinghouse multi-mode radar; Texas Instruments forward-looking infrared (FLIR) sensor; General Electric low-light-level TV (LLLTV); and a Ferranti laser rangefinder. First flight took place on May 4, 1979. It was not produced. The N/AW variant was about 2,000 lbs (910 kg) heavier than the A-10A due to the second cockpit, additional equipment and fuel, fuselage extension and extended vertical tail fins. The WSO station would mirror the front cockpit instruments, including flight controls and engine throttle controls, save for the head-up display.

OA-10 A-10 aircraft were re-designated for forward air control (FAC) duties beginning in October 1987 as a replacement for the OV-10 Bronco. The GAU-8/A gun armament was retained, target-marking rockets were fitted and provisions made for the AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missile.

A-10C This variant features updated controls (some borrowed from supersonic jets), computers and digital targeting equipment as part of a major electronics overhaul. The modernization helps the A-10C variant avoid friendly-fire mistakes, drop satellite-guided smart bombs including JDAMs and WCMDs, conduct missions in all weather conditions. Specific improvements included hands-on throttle and stick (HOTAS) control; two Raytheon 5 in x 5 in (127 mm x 127 mm) multifunction cockpit displays; situational awareness data link (SADL); digital stores management system; a BAE Systems integrated flight and fire control computer (IFFCC); Sniper XR targeting pod; and Scorpion helmet-mounted sighting system. A-10s are also equipped with the Lightning targeting pod.

Other Upgrades The low-altitude safety and target enhancement (LASTE) program involved Grumman Aircraft Systems and General Electric. The development program sought to fit a ground-collision avoidance system (GCAS) to improve low-level survivability; and enhanced altitude control system (EACS) to invoke aircraft SAS during gun firing for greater accuracy; and an air-to-air self-defense gunsight. A turbine engine monitoring system/hot section life improvement modification was intended to increase engine life and reliability. There were also A-10 upgrades for close-air support/battlefield air interdiction (CAS/BAI), including a FLIR sensor and helmet-mounted display.

System

Alternate Designation(s) A-10, A-10A Warthog

Primary Function / Type Close Air Support, Observation and Target Marking Aircraft

Manufacturer Fairchild-Republic, Farmingdale, Long Island, N.Y. and Lockheed Martin Systems, Owego, N.Y. (A-10C platform-wide upgrade)

Crew 1 x Pilot

Number of Engines 2 Engines

Number of Hard Points 11 Pylons (eight under wing, three under fuselage)

Dimensions

Length 16.26 m

Width (Wing Span) 17.53 m

Height 4.47 m

Wing Area 47 sq m

Propulsion

Engine Name General Electric TF34-GE-100

Number of Engines 2

Engine Type Turbofan

Engine Power 4,112 kg (static thrust each)

Fuel 4,990 kg (topped off)

Performance

Speed (Max) 367 knots (423 mph, 681 km/h)

Speed (Cruise) 300 knots (345 mph, 555 km/h)

Range Radius (Typical Load) 250 nm (290 mi, 460 km) w/9,000-lb (4,310-kg) weapons load, 1.8 hour loiter

Range Radius (Deep Strike) 540 nm (620 mi, 1,000 km)

Ferry Range 2,209 nm (2,542 mi, 4,091 km)

Climb Rate 6,000 ft/min (1,829 m/min)

Ceiling 45,000 ft (13,720 m)

Communications

Radio Have-Quick, secure radio communications system

Main Gun System

Gatling Gun

Name GAU-8/A

Type Multi-barrel cannon in fuselage

Caliber 30 mm

Basic Load 1,174 rds (in rear-mounted drum w/link-less feed)

Rate of Fire 3,900 rds/min

Bore 7 x 30-mm rifled barrels on an electrically driven, geared rotor mounting.

Load and Fire System Bolt on each rotating barrel opens and closes as it follows a fixed cam path.

Ammunition

API (Aerojet) Armor Piercing Incendiary, 26.4 oz (748 g)

API, PGU-14/B API round has a lightweight body which contains a sub-caliber high density penetrator of Depleted Uranium (DU).

API (Honeywell) Armor Piercing Incendiary, 25.3 oz (717 g)

HEI/TP High Explosive Incendiary / Target Practice, 24.5 oz (694 g)

HEI, PGU-13/B HEI round with high density Depleted Uranium (DU).

Bomb Systems

Bomb System #1

Name Mark 82

Type High Explosive Bomb

Weight 500 lbs (227 kg)

Length 87.4 inches (2.22 m)

Diameter 0.75 inches (273 mm)

Laser-Guided Yes, when equipped for mission

GPS-Guided Yes, when equipped for mission

Bomb System #2

Name Mark 84

Type High Explosive Bomb

Weight 2039 lb (925 kg)

Length 129 in (3280 mm)

Diameter 18 in (458 mm)

Laser-Guided Yes, when equipped for mission

GPS-Guided Yes, when equipped for mission

Bomb System #3

Name Mark 20 (Rockeye II)

Type Anti-tank Cluster Bomb

Weight (490 lbs (222 kg)

Length INA

Diameter INA

Ordnance Dispenses 247 shaped-charge bomblets

Laser-Guided No guidance (conventional freefall)

GPS-Guided No guidance (conventional freefall)

Missile Systems

Missile System #1

Name AGM-65 Maverick

Type Air-to-Ground Missile

Weight 462–670 lb (210–304 kg), mission dependent.

Length 8 ft 2 in (249 cm)

Diameter 12 in (30 cm)

Warhead 57 kg WDU-20/B shaped-charge (A/B/C/D/H models), 136 kg WDU-24/B penetrating blast-fragmentation (E/F/G/J/K models) and E models utilize FMU-135/B delayed impact fuse.

Missile System #2

Name AIM-9 Sidewinder

Type Air-to-Air Missile

Weight 188 pounds (85.3 kg)

Length 9 feet 11 inches (3.02 m)

Diameter 5 in (127.0 mm)

Warhead WDU-17/B annular blast-frag, 20.8 lb (9.4 kg), detonation mechanism is an IR proximity fuse

Fire Control / Avionics

Fire Control System Type Integrated Flight & Fire Control Computer (IFFCC)

Fire Control Radar Synthetic Aperture Radar pod.

Navigation Inertial navigation and a tactical air navigation (TACAN) system.

Terrain Mapping BAE Systems terrain profile matching systems (TERPROM).

Targeting Pod Sniper XR targeting pod which features mid-wave FLIR (forward-looking infrared), dual mode laser, CCD-TV, laser spot tracker and IR marker.

Protection

Stealth Properties No

Heat Signature Reduction No

Add on Armor INA

NBC Protection INA

EW Counter Measures Yes, using jammer pods and countermeasure flares. Also features electronic support measures (ESM) such as the Litton ALR-46/ALR-69 radar warning receiver.

Chaffs/Flares Yes

Cockpit Armor The single-seat cockpit is protected by all-round armor, with a titanium ‘bathtub’ structure to protect the pilot that is up to 3.8cm thick. The cockpit has a large bulletproof bubble canopy, which gives good all-round vision.

Weapons Load

Mark 82 Load (Pure) 18 x Mark 82 500-lb (227-kg) bombs

Mark 84 Load (Pure) 6 x Mark 84 2,000-lb (907-kg) bombs

AGM-65 Load (Pure) 6 x AGM-65 Maverick Air-to-Ground Missiles

Rockeye Package (Pure) 18 x Rockeye II Cluster Bombs

Mark 82 GBU-54 Laser-guided / JDAM package 6 x 500-lb (227-kg) Laser-guided Bombs

Mark 84 GBU-54 Laser-guided / JDAM package 4 x 2,000-lb (907-kg) Laser-guided Bombs

Note #1 All loads include basic load for the GAU-8/A main gun.

Note #2 Other combinations available based on mission parameters.

Image Sources

Notes https://www.walmart.com/ip/Iconic-Arts-Laminated-33x24-inches-Poster-Aircraft-Military-Thunderbolt-A-10-USA-Jet-Plane-Airplane-Aviation-Flying-Wart-Hog-Air-Force/1141462521; https://www.greatbigcanvas.com/view/a-u-s-air-force-a-10-thunderbolt,2323818/; https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/116729/fighter-squadron-produces-205-sorties-in-three-days/;