https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairchild_Republic_A-10_Thunderbolt_II
The Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II is a single seat, twin turbofan
engine, straight wing jet aircraft developed by Fairchild-Republic for the
United States Air Force. Commonly referred to by its nicknames "Warthog" or
"Hog", its official name comes from the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, a fighter
particularly effective at close air support. The A-10 was designed for close-in
support of ground troops, close air support (CAS), providing quick-action
support for troops against helicopters, vehicles, and ground troops. It entered
service in 1976 and is the only production-built aircraft that has served in the
USAF that was designed solely for CAS. Its secondary mission is to provide
in attacks on ground targets. Aircraft used primarily in this role are
designated OA-10.
The A-10 was intended to improve on the performance of the A-1 Skyraider and its
poor firepower. The A-10 was designed around the 30 mm GAU-8 Avenger rotary
cannon. Its airframe was designed for durability, with measures such as 1,200
pounds (540 kg) of titanium armor to protect the cockpit and aircraft systems,
enabling it to absorb a significant amount of damage and continue flying. Its
short takeoff and landing capability permits operation from airstrips close to
the front lines, and its simple design enables maintenance with minimal
facilities.
An A-10 from the 81st Fighter Squadron, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany
Role
Fixed-wing close air support, forward air control, and ground-attack aircraft
National origin
United States
Manufacturer
Fairchild Republic
First flight
10 May 1972
Introduction
March 1977
Status
In service
Primary user
United States Air Force
Produced
Number built
716
Unit cost
US$18.8 million
The A-10 is exceptionally tough, being able to survive direct hits from
armor-piercing and high-explosive projectiles up to 23 mm. It has
double-redundant hydraulic flight systems, and a mechanical system as a back up
if hydraulics are lost. Flight without hydraulic power uses the manual reversion
control system; pitch and yaw control engages automatically, roll control is
pilot-selected. In manual reversion mode, the A-10 is sufficiently controllable
under favorable conditions to return to base, though control forces are greater
than normal. The aircraft is designed to fly with one engine, one half of tail,
one elevator, and half of a wing missing.
The cockpit and parts of the flight-control system are protected by 1,200 lb
(540 kg) of titanium aircraft armor, referred to as a "bathtub". The armor has
been tested to withstand strikes from 23 mm cannon fire and some strikes from 57
mm rounds. It is made up of titanium plates with thicknesses from 0.5 to 1.5
inches (13 to 38 mm) determined by a study of likely trajectories and deflection
angles. The armor makes up almost 6 percent of the aircraft's empty weight. Any
interior surface of the tub directly exposed to the pilot is covered by a
multi-layer nylon spall shield to protect against shell fragmentation. The front
windscreen and canopy are resistant to small arms fire.
Entering service
The first unit to receive the A-10 Thunderbolt II was the 355th Tactical
Training Wing, based at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, in March 1976.
The first unit to achieve full combat-readiness was the 354th Tactical Fighter
Wing at Myrtle Beach Air Force Base, South Carolina, in 1978. Deployments of
A-10As followed at bases both at home and abroad, including England AFB,
Louisiana; Eielson AFB, Alaska; Osan Air Base, South Korea; and RAF
Bentwaters/RAF Woodbridge, England. The 81st TFW of RAF Bentwaters/RAF
Woodbridge operated rotating detachments of A-10s at four bases in Germany known
and Ahlhorn
A-10s were initially an unwelcome addition to many in the Air Force. Most pilots
switching to the A-10 did not want to because fighter pilots traditionally
favored speed and appearance. In 1987, many A-10s were shifted to the forward
air control (FAC) role and redesignated OA-10. In the FAC role the OA-10 is
typically equipped with up to six pods of 2.75 inch (70 mm) Hydra rockets,
usually with smoke or white phosphorus warheads used for target marking. OA-10s
are physically unchanged and remain fully combat capable despite the
redesignation.
Future
In 2007, the A-10 was expected to be in USAF service until 2028 and possibly
later, when it may be replaced by the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II. Critics
have said that replacing the A-10 with the F-35 would be a "giant leap
backwards" given the A-10's performance and the F-35's high costs. In 2012, the
Air Force considered the F-35B STOVL variant as a replacement CAS aircraft, but
concluded that the aircraft could not generate sufficient sorties. In August
2013, Congress and the Air Force examined various proposals, including the F-35
and the MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle filling the A-10's role. Proponents
state that the A-10's armor and cannon are superior to aircraft such as the F-35
for ground attack, that guided munitions other planes rely upon could be jammed,
and that ground commanders frequently request A-10 support.
Retirement has been deferred until 2022 when F-35s will begin replacing it on a
squadron-by-squadron basis. In March 2016, the Air Force revealed it had begun
that the F-35 is too expensive to operate in day-to-day roles; everything from
low-end AT-6 Wolverine and A-29 Super Tucano turboprops and the Textron AirLand
Scorpion as more basic off-the-shelf options to more sophisticated clean-sheet
attack aircraft or "AT-X" derivatives of the T-X next-generation trainer as
entirely new attack platforms are being considered.
Specifications (A-10A)
General characteristics
Crew: 1
Length: 53 ft 4 in (16.26 m)
Wingspan: 57 ft 6 in (17.53 m)
Height: 14 ft 8 in (4.47 m)
Airfoil: NACA 6716 root, NACA 6713 tip
Empty weight: 24,959 lb (11,321 kg)
Loaded weight: 30,384 lb (13,782 kg)
CAS mission: 47,094 lb (21,361 kg)
Anti-armor mission: 42,071 lb (19,083 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 50,000 lb (23,000 kg)
each
Internal fuel capacity: 11,000 lb (4,990 kg)
Performance
Never exceed speed: 450 knots (518 mph, 833 km/h) at 5,000 ft (1,500 m) with 18
Mk 82 bombs
Maximum speed: 381 knots (439 mph, 706 km/h) at sea level, clean
Cruise speed: 300 knots (340 mph, 560 km/h)
Stall speed: 120 knots (138 mph, 220 km/h)
Combat radius:
CAS mission: 250 nmi (288 mi, 460 km) at 1.88 hour loiter at 5,000 ft (1,500 m),
10 min combat
Anti-armor mission: 252 nmi (290 mi, 467 km), 40 nmi (45 mi, 75 km)) sea-level
penetration and exit, 30 min combat
Ferry range: 2,240 nmi (2,580 mi, 4,150 km) with 50 knot (55 mph, 90 km/h)
headwinds, 20 minutes reserve
Service ceiling: 45,000 ft (13,700 m)
Rate of climb: 6,000 ft/min (30 m/s)
Thrust/weight: 0.36
Armament
(capacity 1,350 rd)
capacity of 16,000 lb (7,260 kg) and provisions to carry combinations of:
Rockets:
respectively)
Missiles:
Bombs:
Mark 80 series of unguided iron bombs or
Mk 77 incendiary bombs or
BLU-1, BLU-27/B Rockeye II, Mk20, BL-755 and CBU-52/58/71/87/89/97 cluster bombs
or
Paveway series of Laser-guided bombs or
Joint Direct Attack Munition (A-10C) or
Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser (A-10C)
Other:
SUU-42A/A Flares/Infrared decoys and chaff dispenser pod or
AN/ALQ-131 or AN/ALQ-184 ECM pods or
Lockheed Martin Sniper XR or LITENING targeting pods (A-10C) or
Avionics
AN/AAS-35(V) Pave Penny laser tracker pod (mounted beneath right side of
cockpit) for use with Paveway LGBs (Currently the Pave Penny is no longer in
use)
Head-up display (HUD) for improved technical flying and air-to-ground support.
*
|
|