| Wednesday, December 03, 2008 |
 |
A-10A Thunderbolt II
IOC: 1976
Total Production: 400
Total Program's Cost: USD$4.0 billion
A-10C Thunderbolt II
IOC: Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Origin
United States of America
Family Members
A-10A Thunderbolt II
Air-to-Air Missiles:
AIM-9M Sidewinder (2)
Guided Missiles:
AGM-65A Maverick
Bombs:
GBU-10 Paveway II
GBU-12 Paveway II
GBU-16 Paveway II
GBU-31 JDAM
GBU-32 JDAM
GBU-54
WCMD
Power plant:
TF34-GE-101 (2)
Sensors & Communications:
AN/ALR-69
LITENING AT
LITENING ER
Sniper XR
Guns & Missile Launchers:
GAU-8/A
Protection Systems:
AN/ALQ-131
|
Description:
The A-10A Thunderbolt II is a twin-engine, single-seat, subsonic, attack aircraft designed to provide close air support to ground forces. Its airframe has been hardened or armored to withstand small caliber arms impacts (certified for up to 23mm projectiles) . The aircraft features high survivability and low altitude maneuverability. In addition, it can loiter near battle areas for extended periods of time operating under 200 meters of altitude. The OA-10A variant has been designated to perform as forward flying controller and reconnaissance mission on the battlefield.
The A-10A can accommodate a wide range of bombs and missiles as well as a nose built-in 30mm 7-barrel GAU-8/A anti-armor gun or other weapons. During the Gulf War in 1991, this aircraft demonstrated its capabilities providing long endurance close air support to ground forces. In the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s it flew providing close air support during NATO military campaigns. During operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 it played a vital role neutralizing buildings occupied by Iraqi forces during the battle of Baghdad.
The C-variant is being developed to provide precision engagement capability to the older A-10A close air support/ground attack aircraft. The fully digital A-10C Thunderbolt II upgraded with precision engagement technology based on laser and GPS can use smart guided weapons such as Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) and Wind Corrected Munitions Dispensers (WCMD), incapable in the A-model. The first A-10C took to the skies in January 2005 at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.
The A-10C aircraft has suffered major modifications through the addition of targeting pods and data link-related infrastructure. The software and cockpit hardware is different from previous models as well. Despite in recent years the A-10 was threaten with full fleet withdrawal, A-10C can extend the service life of the 30-year-old aircraft well into the 21st century. The C-model upgrade program is valued at $300 million and is the result of excellent results harvested by A-10s during recent conflicts. The exact number of A-10Cs to be procured by the US Air Force has not been disclosed but it could be approximately 200 according to senior sources.
In March 2005, the US Air Force officially launched the precision engagement capability program for the entire A/OA-10 fleet. Lockheed-Martin was awarded a $38 million contract for 72 precision engagement upgrade kits with a total estimated value of $168 million for 356 kits over the five years of the program. Precision engagement capability enables A-10 to use JDAMs and WCMDs as well as advanced targeting pods, which means adding the benefits of digital technology to an aging aircraft.
In August 2006 the US Air Force awarded Lockheed Martin a $48 million contract for the supply of 107 Precision Engagement (PE) modification kits for the A-10 close air support aircraft. A-10A after being upgraded with PE kits becomes the multi-mission aircraft A-10C with precision weapons and all-weather capabilities.
Specifications
Accommodation: Crew 1
Guns: Main Gun Caliber 30 mm
Dimensions: Height 4.4 m, Length 16.2 m, Wingspan 17.4 m
Weights: Max Weight 23,134 kg (51,001 lb), Payload 7,250 kg (15,983 lb)
Engine/s Performance: Thrust 18,130 lb (8,224 kg)
Performance: Ceiling 13,700 m (44,948 ft), Max Range 1,300 km (702 nm), Top Speed 186 mps (Mach 0.56)
Other: Number of Engines 2
|
|
Notes
(*) lead contractor
IOC: Initial Operating Capability
FOC: Full Operating Capability
CEP: Circular Error Probable
Comm: Commissioning Date
Meters (m) Kilometers (km) Nautic Miles (nm) Inch (in) Yard (yd) Foot (ft) Millimeter (mm)
Pound (lb) Kilogram (kg) kN (KiloNewton) Ton (t)
Meters per Second (mps) Kilometers per Hour (kph) Knot (kt) Miles per Hour (mph)
Liter (l) Galon (gl)
Year (yr) Minutes (min) Second (sec)
Shaft-Horse-Power (shp)
Last Updated: Saturday, November 22, 2008
Leave Feedback >>
|
|
Copyright © 2003 - 2008 deagel.com. All Rights Reserved.
United States of America / 356 
US Air Forces plans call for the upgrade of 356 A-10A to the A-10C standard with Precision Engagement Capability by 2011. The upgrade program is valued at $500 million.