The A-10 warthog ground attack jet already in the process of receiving new
wings is also set for a series of improvements including new weapons,
cockpit upgrades and helmet mounted controls.
The improvements as described by combat aircraft are part of the A-10 common
fleet initiative. The improvements include standoff bombs that destroy enemy
air defense systems at a distance, allowing the Warthog close in and destroy
enemy tanks up close.
The initiative will keep the warthog relevant as a tank-killing ground
attack aircraft, even as the air defenses of high-tech adversaries become
deadlier than ever. One of the most important is the incorporation of the
GBU-39 small diameter bomb.
The GBU-39 is a 250-pound high explosive bomb fitted with wings and a
guidance system, allowing it to engage individual ground targets at ranges
up to 40 miles. According to combat aircraft, the Warthog can carry up to 18
GBU-39s, theoretically giving it the ability to engage up to 18 different
targets.
Upgraded A-10s coupled with unmanned aerial vehicles could work together to
suppress enemy air defenses and bomb tank columns, OOVs could be used to
locate enemy air defenses such the Russian tour and Pantsir S-1 short-range
air defense weapons before being shot down, passing on the coordinates of
those weapons to A-10 crews.
The A-10s in turn could then unleash GBU-39s against those weapons before
closing in and engaging enemy tanks and armored vehicles with M65 maverick
missiles, high explosive bombs and of course the GAU-8A avenger 30
millimeter 7-barreled gatling gun.
Additional A-10 improvements will include the improvements for the scorpion
helmet-mounted display an augmented reality system that superimposes targets
on the ground over the A-10 pilot's field of view.
This allows A-10 pilots to identify and engage enemy forces on the ground as
quickly as possible, minimizing their exposure to enemy fire.
The initiative could also include link 16 data links for sharing information
with friendly forces and a synthetic aperture radar pod capable of scanning
the ground and identifying tanks and armored vehicles at night and through
adverse weather such as clouds or fog.
