The A-10 thunderbolt is also known as the warthog, the flying gun and the
tank buster. the aircraft was used extensively during operation desert storm
in support of NATO operations in response to the kosovo crisis, in operation
enduring freedom in Afghanistan and in operation Iraqi Freedom.
The A-10 is a high survivability and versatile aircraft popular with pilots
for the get-home effectiveness. The mission of the aircraft is a ground
attack against tanks, armored vehicles and installations and close air
support of ground forces.
The A-10 is suitable for operation from forwarding air bases with short
takeoff and landing capability. the aircraft has a long range, 800 miles
high endurance and can loiter in the battle area. The maneuverability at low
speed and low altitude below 1000 feet, allows accurate and effective
targeting and weapon delivery over all types of terrain.
This is what makes A-10 warthog so deadly
Weapons
The aircraft has 11 stores pylons, providing an external load capacity of
7260 kilograms. There are three pylons under the fuselage and the loads can
be configured to use either the centerline pylon or the two flanking
fuselage pylons.
For weapon guidance, the aircraft can be fitted with pave penny laser
guidance electronic support measures, Pod installed on the starboard
fuselage pylon. each wing carries four stores pylons, three outboard and one
inboard of the wheel ferry.
The A-10 can carry up to 10 maverick air-to-surface missiles. the raytheon
maverick AGM-65 missile uses a variety of guidance systems including imaging
infrared guidance and warheads, including a high penetration 57 kilograms
conical shaped charge warhead.
The range is more than 45 kilometers, the A-10 can also carry the sidewinder
air-to-air missile which is an all-aspect short-range missile with a maximum
speed over mach 2.
The A-10 is capable of deploying a wide range of ordnance. for example the
ldgp mk 82,226 kilograms, 500 pounds general purpose bombs, blue 1 and blue
27, B rocket 2 cluster bombs and the cluster bomb unit CBU-5271 .
The aircraft is armed with a general dynamics GAU-8 avenger 30 millimeters
cannon, mounted in the nose of the aircraft. Using the cannon, the A-10 is
capable of disabling the main battle tank from a range of over 6500 meters.
The cannon can fire a range of ammunition including Armor-Piercing
Incendiary (API) Rounds weighing up to 0.75 kilograms or uranium-depleted
0.43 kilograms API rounds.
The magazine can hold 1,350 rounds of ammunition. the pilot can select a
firing rate of 2,100 or 4,200 rounds a minute.
A 10 Thunderbolt Cockpit
The single-seat cockpit is protected by all-around armor with a titanium
bathtub structure to protect the pilot that is up to 3.8 centimeters thick.
The cockpit has a large bulletproof bubble canopy which gives good
all-around vision.
The cockpit is equipped with a head-up display which is used for targeting
and weapon aiming, i have quick secure radio communication system inertial
navigation and a tactical air navigation, taken system.
The pilot is equipped with night vision goggles and also the infrared
imaging display of the Maverick AGM-65.
Engines
The two non-afterburning turbofan engines TF34-GE-100 supplied by general
electric, each supply 9065 pounds thrust. the location of the engines high
on the fuselage allows the pilot to fly the aircraft fairly easily with one
engine inoperable.
