welcome back the a-10 warthog ground attack jet already in the process of receiving new wings
is also set for a series of improvements including new weapons cockpit upgrades
helmet mounted controls and a laser designator pod the upgrade of a10 as to a10cs from 2005
onwards was a huge leap for the warthog suite 10 will field in the spring of 2021.
the improvements as described by combat aircraft are part of the a10 common fleet initiative
the improvements include standoff bombs that destroy enemy air defense systems
at a distance allowing the warthog to close in and destroy enemy tanks up close
the initiative will keep the warthog relevant as a tank killing ground attack aircraft even as the
air defenses of high-tech adversaries become deadlier than ever one of the most important
is the incorporation of the gbu-39 small diameter bomb the gbu-39 is a 250-pound high-explosive bomb
fitted with wings and a guidance system allowing it to engage individual ground targets at ranges
up to 40 miles according to combat aircraft the warthog can carry up to 18 gb u39s
theoretically giving it the ability to engage up to 18 different targets
upgraded a-10s coupled with unmanned aerial vehicles could work together to suppress enemy
air defenses and bomb tank columns the a-10s in turn could then unleash gbu-39s against those
weapons before closing in and engaging enemy tanks and armored vehicles with agm-65 maverick missiles
high explosive bombs and of course the gau-8 a avenger 30 millimeter 7-barreled gatling gun
additional a10 improvements will include the improvements for the scorpion helmet
mounted display an augmented reality system that superimposes targets on the ground over the a-10
pilot's field of view this allows a10 pilots to identify and engage enemy forces on the ground
as quickly as possible minimizing their exposure to enemy fire the initiative could also include
link 16 data links for sharing information with friendly forces in a synthetic aperture radar pod
capable of scanning the ground and identifying tanks and armored vehicles at night and through
adverse weather such as clouds or fog this upgrade is important because it provides modern navigation
instruments to improve situational awareness when flying in imc instrument meteorological
conditions kating explains it will make targets much more visible through a higher definition
display of targeting pod footage and improved map imagery will allow enhanced target correlation
sdb testing is currently in developmental testing with the 40th flight test squadron
detachment 1 based at davis-monthan air force base arizona this will give the a-10 a four-fold
increase in standoff bomb capability and allows the a-10 to provide weapons effects in much
greater threat environments than before this is due to the standoff range of these weapons
which means the a-10 pilot will be able to strike from outside the range of some ground threats
the usaf completed a project to re-wing a portion of its a10c fleet on july 25 2019
the project began in 2007 when boeing received a 1.1 billion dollars contract to provide 173
sets of wings the new wings are expected to last for up to 10 000 equivalent flight hours without
requiring a depot inspection and will permit the modified aircraft to remain in service through
2030 or beyond a further project to provide 112 additional wing sets the service is acquiring
the wing sets under the a-10 thunderbolt advanced wing continuation kit attic program
a long-held ambition to re-engine the a-10s isn't included in current plans new parts
suppliers with modern techniques may help restore the original engine thrust of the general electric
tf-34 engines rather than the slight detune that the aircraft currently operates with
together this host of capability upgrades will keep the a-10 at the forefront of the usa fcas
mission for at least another decade and likely substantially longer a lot will depend on whether
or not the usaf decides to mount another attack on the thunderbolt 2 fleet but with new investments
being made to recapitalize the a-10 force and with reduced interest in a successor or
new light attack platform all indications are that the a-10 will not be going away anytime
soon
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