Time Period: Post-WW2
Country of Origin: United States
Type: Ground Attack Aircraft
Manufacturer: Fairchild Republic
Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II Aircraft Overview
The A-10 Thunderbolt II, commonly known as the Warthog, is a single-seat, twin-engine ground attack aircraft primarily designed for close air support (CAS) missions. It was developed by Fairchild-Republic in the 1970s for the United States Air Force (USAF) and has since become one of the most iconic and specialized ground attack aircraft in the world.
The A-10 is specifically designed to provide direct support to ground forces by engaging and destroying enemy tanks, armored vehicles, and other ground targets. Its key features include a highly durable airframe, exceptional maneuverability at low altitudes, and a wide array of weapons capable of delivering precise and powerful strikes.
The aircraft’s most distinctive feature is its 30mm GAU-8/A Avenger Gatling gun, which can fire depleted uranium armor-piercing rounds at a high rate of fire. The A-10’s gun, combined with its ability to carry a variety of missiles, rockets, and bombs, allows it to deliver devastating firepower against ground targets.
The A-10 Thunderbolt II has proven its effectiveness in numerous conflicts and combat operations, such as the Gulf War, the Balkans, Afghanistan, and Iraq. It is highly regarded for its ruggedness, survivability, and ability to operate from austere and forward operating bases. The Warthog’s design philosophy focuses on its ability to withstand significant battle damage and return safely to base, which has earned it a reputation as a reliable and effective ground attack platform.
Fairchild Republic A-10C Specifications
- 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)
- Wing area: 506 sq ft (47.0 m2)
- Airfoil: NACA 6716 root, NACA 6713 tip
- Empty weight: 24,959 lb (11,321 kg)
- Gross 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: 46,000 lb (20,865 kg)
- Fuel capacity: 11,000 lb (4,990 kg) internal
- Powerplant: 2 × General Electric TF34-GE-100A turbofans, 9,065 lbf (40.32 kN) thrust each
Fairchild Republic A-10C Performance
- Maximum speed: 381 kn (439 mph, 706 km/h) at sea level, clean
- Cruise speed: 300 kn (340 mph, 560 km/h)
- Stall speed: 120 kn (138 mph, 220 km/h) at 30,000 lb (14,000 kg)
- Never exceed speed: 450 kn (518 mph, 833 km/h) at 5,000 ft (1,500 m) with 18 Mark 82 bombs
- Combat range: 250 nmi (288 mi, 463 km)
- CAS mission: 250 nmi (290 mi; 460 km) 1.88 hour loiter at 5,000 ft (1,500 m), 10 min combat
- Anti-armor mission: 252 nmi (290 mi; 467 km) with sea-level penetration and exit, 30 min combat
- Ferry range: 2,240 nmi (2,580 mi, 4,150 km) with 50 knots (58 mph; 26 m/s) headwinds, 20 minutes reserve
- Service ceiling: 45,000 ft (13,700 m)
- Rate of climb: 6,000 ft/min (30 m/s)
- Wing loading: 99 lb/sq ft (482 kg/m2)
- Thrust/weight: 0.36
Fairchild Republic A-10C Armament
- Guns: 1× 30 mm (1.18 in) GAU-8/A Avenger rotary cannon with 1,174 rounds
- Hardpoints: 11 (8× under-wing and 3× under-fuselage pylon stations) with a capacity of 16,000 lb (7,260 kg), with provisions to carry combinations of:
- Rockets:
- 4× LAU-61/LAU-68 rocket pods (each with 19×/7× Hydra 70 mm/APKWS[214] rockets, respectively)
- 6× LAU-131 rocket pods (each with 7× Hydra 70 rockets)[215][216]
- Missiles:
- 2× AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles for self-defense
- 6× AGM-65 Maverick air-to-surface missiles
- Bombs:
- Mark 80 series of unguided ‘iron’ bombs or
- Mk 77 incendiary bombs or
- BLU-1, BLU-27/B, CBU-20 Rockeye II, BL755[217] and CBU-52/58/71/87/89/97 cluster bombs or
- Paveway series of Laser-guided bombs or
- Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) (A-10C)[111] or
- Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser
- Other:
- SUU-42A/A Flares/infrared decoys and chaff dispenser pod or
- 2× 600 US gal (2,300 L) Sargent Fletcher drop tanks for increased range/loiter time.
- Rockets:
