Affectionately known as the “A-10 Warthog” for its aggressive appearance, quite often emphasized by painted teeth on the nose cone, the A-10 Thunderbolt II is the leading U.S. Air Force aircraft with low-altitude close air support capability. This aircraft, developed by Fairchild Republic Co., turned into an immediately recognizable icon with its monstrous GAU-8 Avenger 30mm Gatling gun capable of firing armor-piercing depleted uranium and high explosive incendiary rounds.
The A-10 Thunderbolt II is the first Air Force aircraft designed specifically for close air support. The A-10 provides the air-to-ground force with outstanding maneuverability at low air speeds and altitudes and is highly accurate and survivable in the weapons-delivery envelope. The aircraft can loiter near battle areas for extended periods and operate under low ceiling and visibility conditions. The wide combat radius and short takeoff and landing capabilities enable it to operate from locations near the front lines. Equipped with Night Vision Imaging Systems, the pilots of the A-10 can conduct missions in darkness, furthering its versatility in operations.
The aircraft design provides for a single-seat cockpit forward of the wings, with parts sheltered by titanium armor that also covers part of the flight-control system. Redundancy of major structural sections, as well as armor, is just another contributor to the survivability of the A-10 during close air support. This aircraft can take direct hits from armor-piercing and high explosive projectiles of up to 23mm. Furthermore, self-sealing fuel cells with protection internally and externally with foam in addition to the manual systems backing up the redundant hydraulic flight-control systems ensure pilots can fly and land even when hydraulic power is lost.
It has undergone numerous changes over the years. In 1978, it received the Pave Penny laser receiver pod and was later upgraded to more modern targeting pods. In 1980, it began to be fitted with an inertial navigation system and then with the LASTE or Low-Altitude Safety and Targeting Enhancement upgrade that fitted it out with computerized weapon-aiming equipment, an autopilot, and a ground-collision warning system.
Starting in 1999, the A-10 fleet received Global Positioning System navigation systems and new multi-function displays. Precision Engagement upgrades began in 2005, adding an improved fire control system, electronic countermeasures, upgraded cockpit displays, and the ability to deliver smart bombs. These upgrades also included a moving map display, hands-on throttle and stick, digital stores management, LITENING and Sniper advanced targeting pod integration, situational awareness data link (SADL), variable message format (VMF), GPS-guided weapons, and upgraded DC power. The entire fleet, now designated as A-10C, has been modified with these Precision Engagement upgrades.
The A-10 Thunderbolt II can be serviced and operated from austere bases with limited facilities near battle areas. Many of its parts are interchangeable left and right, including the engines, main landing gear, and vertical stabilizers. Its avionics suite includes multi-band communications, Global Positioning System and inertial navigation systems, infrared and electronic countermeasures against air-to-air and air-to-surface threats, and a heads-up display for flight and weapons delivery information.
The A-10 can employ a wide variety of conventional munitions, including general-purpose bombs, cluster bomb units, laser-guided bombs, JDAM, WCMD, AGM-65 Maverick and AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles, rockets, illumination flares, and the GAU-8/A 30mm cannon, capable of firing 3,900 rounds per minute to defeat a wide range of targets, including tanks.
The first production A-10A was delivered to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, in October 1975, with the upgraded A-10C reaching initial operational capability in September 2007. Specially designed for close air support, the mixture of large and varied ordnance loads, long loiter time, accurate weapons delivery, austere field capability, and survivability proved invaluable to the United States and its allies in the A-10. Some of the operations they have participated in are Desert Storm, Southern Watch, Provide Comfort, Desert Fox, Noble Anvil, Deny Flight, Deliberate Guard, Allied Force, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom.
But for some analysts, the glory days of the A-10 are behind it. The modern battlefield also introduces new threats to the aircraft, including 30mm autocannons carried by BMP-2 and BMP-3 Infantry Fighting Vehicles, which stand a good chance against A-10 armor. The A-10 nonetheless remains an icon of close air support, a tile favorite of those who have seen its power and precision.