A-10/OA-10 Thunderbolt II
USAF Photo
courtesy Air Combat Command
Mission
The
A/OA-10 Thunderbolt II is the first Air Force aircraft specially
designed for close air support of ground forces. They are
simple, effective and survivable twin-engine jet aircraft that
can be used against all ground targets, including tanks and
other armored vehicles.
Features
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 ceilings (303.3 meters) with
1.5-mile (2.4 kilometers) 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.
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 titanium armor 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 23mm. Their self-sealing fuel cells
are protected by internal and external foam. Manual systems back
up their redundant hydraulic flight-control systems. This
permits pilots to fly and land when hydraulic power 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 freefall
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 30mm GAU-8/A Gatling gun can fire 3,900 rounds
a minute and can defeat an array of ground targets to include
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.
Background
The
first production A-10A was delivered to Davis-Monthan Air Force
Base, Ariz., 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.
General
Characteristics
Primary
Function: A-10 -- close air support, OA-10 - airborne
forward air control
Contractor: Fairchild Republic Co.
Power Plant: Two General Electric TF34-GE-100 turbofans
Thrust: 9,065 pounds each engine
Length: 53 feet, 4 inches (16.16 meters)
Height: 14 feet, 8 inches (4.42 meters)
Wingspan: 57 feet, 6 inches (17.42 meters)
Speed: 420 miles per hour (Mach 0.56)
Ceiling: 45,000 feet (13,636 meters)
Maximum Takeoff Weight: 51,000 pounds (22,950 kilograms)
Range: 800 miles (695 nautical miles)
Armament: One 30 mm GAU-8/A seven-barrel Gatling gun; up
to 16,000 pounds (7,200 kilograms) of mixed ordnance on eight
under-wing and three under-fuselage pylon stations, including
500 pounds (225 kilograms) of Mk-82 and 2,000 pounds (900
kilograms) 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 (6.99 centimeters) rockets; illumination flares
and AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles.
Crew: One
Date Deployed: March 1976
Unit Cost: $9.8 million (fiscal 98 constant dollars)
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 |
