A-10 Thunderbolt II (Warthog) American Close Air Support Aircraft

tiers

false

true

false

categories

"WEG"

"Aircraft"

"Fixed Wing Aircraft"

"Attack Aircraft"

"United States"

"PRO_CFE Treaty"

"PRO_United States of America"

"Air"

"Tier3"

notes

"The A-10 Thunderbolt II is the U.S. Air Force’s primary low-altitude close air support aircraft. The A-10 is perhaps best known for its fearsome GAU-8 Avenger 30mm Gatling gun mounted on the nose. The GAU-8 is designed to fire armor-piercing depleted uranium and high explosive incendiary rounds. The A-10 has excellent maneuverability at low air speeds and altitude, and is a highly accurate and survivable weapons-delivery platform. The aircraft can loiter near battle areas for extended periods of time and operate in low ceiling and visibility conditions. The wide combat radius and short takeoff and landing capability permit operations in and out of locations near front lines. Using night vision goggles, A-10 pilots can conduct their missions during darkness."

dateOfIntroduction

1976

countryOfOrigin

"United States"

proliferation

"CFE Treaty, United States of America"

selectedregions

"All Regions"

checkedregions

Empty array

checkedcountries

"CFE Treaty"

"United States of America"

dis

name	"A10A WARTHOG"
string	"01.02.225.002.004.001.000"

images

"A-10_(A).jpg"

"A-10_(B).jpg"

"A-10_(C).jpg"

sections

name

"System"

properties

name	"Alternate Designation(s)"
value	"A-10, A-10A Warthog"

name	"Primary Function / Type"
value	"Close Air Support, Observation and Target Marking Aircraft"

name	"Manufacturer"
value	"Fairchild-Republic, Farmingdale, Long Island, N.Y. and Lockheed Martin Systems, Owego, N.Y. (A-10C platform-wide upgrade)"

name	"Crew"
value	"1 x Pilot"

name	"Number of Engines"
value	"2 Engines"

name	"Number of Hard Points"
value	"11 Pylons (eight under wing, three under fuselage)"

name

"Dimensions"

properties

name	"Length"
value	"16.26 m"

name	"Width (Wing Span)"
value	"17.53 m"

name	"Height"
value	"4.47 m"

name	"Wing Area"
value	"47 sq m"

name

"Propulsion"

properties

name	"Engine Name"
value	"General Electric TF34-GE-100"

name	"Number of Engines"
value	"2"

name	"Engine Type"
value	"Turbofan"

name	"Engine Power"
value	"4,112 kg (static thrust each)"

name	"Fuel"
value	"4,990 kg (topped off)"

name

"Performance"

properties

name	"Speed (Max)"
value	"367 knots (423 mph, 681 km/h)"

name	"Speed (Cruise)"
value	"300 knots (345 mph, 555 km/h)"

name	"Range Radius (Typical Load)"
value	"250 nm (290 mi, 460 km) w/9,000-lb (4,310-kg) weapons load, 1.8 hour loiter"

name	"Range Radius (Deep Strike)"
value	"540 nm (620 mi, 1,000 km)"

name	"Ferry Range"
value	"2,209 nm (2,542 mi, 4,091 km)"

name	"Climb Rate"
value	"6,000 ft/min (1,829 m/min)"

name	"Ceiling"
value	"45,000 ft (13,720 m)"

name

"Communications"

properties

name	"Radio"
value	"Have-Quick, secure radio communications system"

name

"Main Gun System"

sections

name

"Gatling Gun"

properties

name	"Name"
value	"GAU-8/A"

name	"Type"
value	"Multi-barrel cannon in fuselage"

name	"Caliber"
value	"30 mm"

name	"Basic Load"
value	"1,174 rds (in rear-mounted drum w/link-less feed)"

name	"Rate of Fire"
value	"3,900 rds/min"

name	"Bore"
value	"7 x 30-mm rifled barrels on an electrically driven, geared rotor mounting."

name	"Load and Fire System"
value	"Bolt on each rotating barrel opens and closes as it follows a fixed cam path."

name

"Ammunition"

properties

name	"API (Aerojet)"
value	"Armor Piercing Incendiary, 26.4 oz (748 g)"

name	"API, PGU-14/B"
value	"API round has a lightweight body which contains a sub-caliber high density penetrator of Depleted Uranium (DU)."

name	"API (Honeywell)"
value	"Armor Piercing Incendiary, 25.3 oz (717 g)"

name	"HEI/TP"
value	"High Explosive Incendiary / Target Practice, 24.5 oz (694 g)"

name	"HEI, PGU-13/B"
value	"HEI round with high density Depleted Uranium (DU)."

name

"Bomb Systems"

sections

name

"Bomb System #1"

properties

name	"Name"
value	"Mark 82"

name	"Type"
value	"High Explosive Bomb"

name	"Weight"
value	"500 lbs (227 kg)"

name	"Length"
value	"87.4 inches (2.22 m)"

name	"Diameter"
value	"0.75 inches (273 mm)"

name	"Laser-Guided"
value	"Yes, when equipped for mission"

name	"GPS-Guided"
value	"Yes, when equipped for mission"

name

"Bomb System #2"

properties

name	"Name"
value	"Mark 84"

name	"Type"
value	"High Explosive Bomb"

name	"Weight"
value	"2039 lb (925 kg)"

name	"Length"
value	"129 in (3280 mm)"

name	"Diameter"
value	"18 in (458 mm)"

name	"Laser-Guided"
value	"Yes, when equipped for mission"

name	"GPS-Guided"
value	"Yes, when equipped for mission"

name

"Bomb System #3"

properties

name	"Name"
value	"Mark 20 (Rockeye II)"

name	"Type"
value	"Anti-tank Cluster Bomb"

name	"Weight"
value	"(490 lbs (222 kg)"

name	"Length"
value	"INA"

name	"Diameter"
value	"INA"

name	"Ordnance"
value	"Dispenses 247 shaped-charge bomblets"

name	"Laser-Guided"
value	"No guidance (conventional freefall)"

name	"GPS-Guided"
value	"No guidance (conventional freefall)"

name

"Missile Systems"

sections

name

"Missile System #1"

properties

name	"Name"
value	"AGM-65 Maverick"

name	"Type"
value	"Air-to-Ground Missile"

name	"Weight"
value	"462–670 lb (210–304 kg), mission dependent."

name	"Length"
value	"8 ft 2 in (249 cm)"

name	"Diameter"
value	"12 in (30 cm)"

name	"Warhead"
value	"57 kg WDU-20/B shaped-charge (A/B/C/D/H models), 136 kg WDU-24/B penetrating blast-fragmentation (E/F/G/J/K models) and E models utilize FMU-135/B delayed impact fuse."

name

"Missile System #2"

properties

name	"Name"
value	"AIM-9 Sidewinder"

name	"Type"
value	"Air-to-Air Missile"

name	"Weight"
value	"188 pounds (85.3 kg)"

name	"Length"
value	"9 feet 11 inches (3.02 m)"

name	"Diameter"
value	"5 in (127.0 mm)"

name	"Warhead"
value	"WDU-17/B annular blast-frag, 20.8 lb (9.4 kg), detonation mechanism is an IR proximity fuse"

name

"Fire Control / Avionics"

properties

name	"Fire Control System Type"
value	"Integrated Flight & Fire Control Computer (IFFCC)"

name	"Fire Control Radar"
value	"Synthetic Aperture Radar pod."

name	"Navigation"
value	"Inertial navigation and a tactical air navigation (TACAN) system."

name	"Terrain Mapping"
value	"BAE Systems terrain profile matching systems (TERPROM)."

name	"Targeting Pod"
value	"Sniper XR targeting pod which features mid-wave FLIR (forward-looking infrared), dual mode laser, CCD-TV, laser spot tracker and IR marker."

name

"Protection"

properties

name	"Stealth Properties"
value	"No"

name	"Heat Signature Reduction"
value	"No"

name	"Add on Armor"
value	"INA"

name	"NBC Protection"
value	"INA"

name	"EW Counter Measures"
value	"Yes, using jammer pods and countermeasure flares. Also features electronic support measures (ESM) such as the Litton ALR-46/ALR-69 radar warning receiver."

name	"Chaffs/Flares"
value	"Yes"

name	"Cockpit Armor"
value	"The single-seat cockpit is protected by all-round armor, with a titanium ‘bathtub’ structure to protect the pilot that is up to 3.8cm thick. The cockpit has a large bulletproof bubble canopy, which gives good all-round vision."

name

"Weapons Load"

properties

name	"Mark 82 Load (Pure)"
value	"18 x Mark 82 500-lb (227-kg) bombs"

name	"Mark 84 Load (Pure)"
value	"6 x Mark 84 2,000-lb (907-kg) bombs"

name	"AGM-65 Load (Pure)"
value	"6 x AGM-65 Maverick Air-to-Ground Missiles"

name	"Rockeye Package (Pure)"
value	"18 x Rockeye II Cluster Bombs"

name	"Mark 82 GBU-54 Laser-guided / JDAM package"
value	"6 x 500-lb (227-kg) Laser-guided Bombs"

name	"Mark 84 GBU-54 Laser-guided / JDAM package"
value	"4 x 2,000-lb (907-kg) Laser-guided Bombs"

name	"Note #1"
value	"All loads include basic load for the GAU-8/A main gun."

name	"Note #2"
value	"Other combinations available based on mission parameters."

variants

name	"A-10 (A-10A)"
notes	"First production model."

name

"A-10 N/AW"

notes

"This was a company-funded two-seat prototype for the night/adverse weather (N/AW) mission. It featured a second, elevated seat for a weapons system officer (WSO); a Westinghouse multi-mode radar; Texas Instruments forward-looking infrared (FLIR) sensor; General Electric low-light-level TV (LLLTV); and a Ferranti laser rangefinder. First flight took place on May 4, 1979. It was not produced. The N/AW variant was about 2,000 lbs (910 kg) heavier than the A-10A due to the second cockpit, additional equipment and fuel, fuselage extension and extended vertical tail fins. The WSO station would mirror the front cockpit instruments, including flight controls and engine throttle controls, save for the head-up display."

name	"OA-10"
notes	"A-10 aircraft were re-designated for forward air control (FAC) duties beginning in October 1987 as a replacement for the OV-10 Bronco. The GAU-8/A gun armament was retained, target-marking rockets were fitted and provisions made for the AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missile."

name

"A-10C"

notes

"This variant features updated controls (some borrowed from supersonic jets), computers and digital targeting equipment as part of a major electronics overhaul. The modernization helps the A-10C variant avoid friendly-fire mistakes, drop satellite-guided smart bombs including JDAMs and WCMDs, conduct missions in all weather conditions. Specific improvements included hands-on throttle and stick (HOTAS) control; two Raytheon 5 in x 5 in (127 mm x 127 mm) multifunction cockpit displays; situational awareness data link (SADL); digital stores management system; a BAE Systems integrated flight and fire control computer (IFFCC); Sniper XR targeting pod; and Scorpion helmet-mounted sighting system. A-10s are also equipped with the Lightning targeting pod."

name

"Other Upgrades"

notes

"The low-altitude safety and target enhancement (LASTE) program involved Grumman Aircraft Systems and General Electric. The development program sought to fit a ground-collision avoidance system (GCAS) to improve low-level survivability; and enhanced altitude control system (EACS) to invoke aircraft SAS during gun firing for greater accuracy; and an air-to-air self-defense gunsight. A turbine engine monitoring system/hot section life improvement modification was intended to increase engine life and reliability. There were also A-10 upgrades for close-air support/battlefield air interdiction (CAS/BAI), including a FLIR sensor and helmet-mounted display."

type

"WEG"

version

1