GBU-39 munitions have proven to be
highly desired weapons in ongoing
conflicts and the addition of this
weapon to the A-10s Arsenal will greatly
improve the flexibility of ground
commanders. Alexi Worley an ACC spokesman
told task and purpose
adding the GBU-39 will continue efforts
to keep the A-10 relevant in ongoing and
future conflicts where versatility in
weaponry is critical to meeting ground
commander needs. Military aviation magazine combat
aircraft first reported news of the SDB integration on september, noting that a
new multi-target engagement capability
will make the A-10 theoretically able to
target 18 weapons individually while
hauling four SDBs on a single hardpoint.
First introduced to air force inventory
back in 1976. The A-10 had earned a reputation as a
close air support workhorse among
infantry troops for the distinctive roar
of its GAU-8, avenger gatling gun
and while Worley said that no particular
weapons were expressly covered in the CFI. The clear focus of the initiative is
on enhancing the airframe's overall
lethality.
Those enhancements include a new
high-definition cockpit display that
will improve the A-10s ability to find
and fix targets from greater distances. Jam resistant GPS an improved
communication suite and a
three-dimensional surround sound audio
system that. According to a november 2018
request for information will drastically
improve the spatial, battle space and
situational awareness for pilots.
While air combat command continually
seeks new and improved weapons for all
its fighter aircraft, attend planners and
programmers are also keeping an eye out
for which new weapons will prove useful
to ground commanders. While combat aircraft reported that the A-10 was set to receive a synthetic
aperture radar pod.
Whirly told task and
purpose that acc has only conducted
initial suitability studies and not yet
made a final determination. Worley did confirm however that A-10
pilots are now outfitted with an
improved helmet mounted hybrid optical
based inertial tracker site that more
accurately responds pilot head movements. The first A-10 airframes are set to
receive the first batch of modifications
as early as fiscal year 2021.
