Mission
The A-10 and OA-10 Thunderbolt IIs are 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 and 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.
Thunderbolt IIs have single-seat cockpits forward of their wings,
and a large bubble canopy which provides pilots all-around vision.
The pilots are encircled 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. Their redundant
hydraulic flight-control systems are backed up by manual 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, and target
penetration aids. Their weapons delivery systems include head-up
displays that indicate airspeed, altitude and dive angle on the
windscreen, 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.
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, AZ., 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 America and its allies during
Operation Desert Storm. In the Gulf War A-10s, with a mission
capable rate of 95.7 percent, flew 8,100 sorties and launched
90 percent of the AGM-65 Maverick missiles used there.
General Characteristics
Primary Function: Close air support.
Contractor: Fairchild Republic Co.
Power Plant: Two General Electric TF34-GE-100 turbofans.
Thrust: 9,065 pounds (4079.25 kilograms) 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 mph (Mach 0.56).
Ceiling: 1,000 feet (303 meters).
Maximum Takeoff Weight: 51,000 pounds (22,950 kilograms).
Range: 288 miles (250 nautical miles) carrying 9,500 pounds (4,275 kilograms)
of weapons and with a 1.7-hour loiter time.
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 retarded bombs,
2,000 pounds (900 kilograms) of general-purpose bombs, incendiary and
Rockeye II cluster bombs, combined effects munitions, Maverick missiles and
laser-guided/electro-optically guided bombs; infrared countermeasure
flares; electronic countermeasure chaff; jammer pods; 2.75-inch
(6.99 centimeters) rockets; and illumination flares.
Crew: One.
Introduction Date: March 1976.
Unit Cost: $8.8 million.
Inventory: Active force, 72 A-10s and 60 OA-10s; ANG, 84 A-10s, 24 OA-10s;
Reserve, 87 A-10s.
