People might be familiar with the A-10 warplane’s distinctive sound. This aircraft has a loud,
buzzing burst of machine-gun fire from the sky.
It has become the American apple pie and a sight for sore eyes in the range of military operations.
Indeed, it is the A-10 Thunderbolt, mostly known as the Warthog. This aircraft has obtained quite
a reputation for itself since it was put into service by the United States Airforce.
Hello everyone. Welcome back to another episode of Military TV. In today’s session
we will discuss Why the U.S. Military Loves the A-10 Warthog. If you are curios on
everything related to this flying tank, don’t go anywhere, stay tuned only at this channel
The A-10 Thunderbolt usually known as the Warthog or the 'flying gun' has been in service since the
late 1970s. The A-10 was designed to provide close air support (CAS) to friendly ground
troops by attacking armoured vehicles, tanks, and other enemy ground forces. Its secondary
mission is to direct other aircraft in attacks on the ground targets, a role called forward
air controller-airborne aircraft used primarily in this role are designated OA-10. This aircraft was
used extensively during Operation Desert Storm, in support of NATO operations in response to
the Kosovo crisis, as well as in operation enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Iraq.
With the name of the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II, it was developed during the
Vietnam War when U.S. Air Force losses requested for a new warplane to assist the attack toward
the enemy ground forces. The problem was that after World War Two, the military began to
rely on nuclear weapons and aircraft capable of delivering those weapons. Consequently,
planes with conventional weaponry fell to the wayside until after the Vietnam War.
In 1966, Air Force requested for an aircraft with low-speed manoeuvrability, lethal firepower,
and endurances. The A-10 debuted for the first time in 1972, after modified demands requested
the addition of a 30mm gun, as well as additional specifications like speed and take-off distance,
until it was selected for use by the Air Force five years after that.
Moving on to the next scene, we can take a look at the distinctions of this tank-buster.
This aircraft has performed various capacity including to withstand small arms fire and has
earned the distinction as a “flying tank,” it was completed with a hull built of titanium armour.
Known for being able to loiter in the sky above-ground targets,
the A-10 has long been cherished and revered by ground troops under enemy
fire who appreciate its 30-millimeter cannon firing upon their enemies.
Another point to mention is that the windows in the A-10 are wider, providing pilots a
larger field of view with which to see and strike targets. The engines of the A-10 are located high
so that the aircraft can land in rough environment such as rugged, dirty or sandy terrain.
The A-10 is powered by General Electric TF34-GE-100 turbofan engines. Specifically, these
aerodynamic configurations and engine technology enable the A-10 to fly slower and lower, in closer
proximity to ground forces and enemy targets. In addition, there have been numerous cases where
A-10 engines were shot up and the pilots were unaware until they returned after a mission.
To detect targets for the pilot, the A-10 employs "Lightning" and "Sniper" pods equipped
with infrared and electro-optical sensors. Pilots flying attack missions in the Warthog
communicate with other aircraft and ground forces using radios and a datalink recognised
as LINK 16. Pilots can also text messages with other aircraft and across platforms.
The cockpit is equipped with the CASS cockpit or the Common Avionics Architecture System,
which incorporates moving digital map screen displaying essential information such as altitude,
elevation, surrounding terrain and target data.
In regard to the armament, the A-10 is fitted with a satisfying and ferociously effective weapons
system. It was packed with a full complement of weapons, including GPS-guided Joint Direct Attack
Munitions. Its arsenal includes GBU 38s, GBU 31s, GBU 54s, AGM-65s, AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles and
rockets along with illumination flares, jammer pods and other protective countermeasures.
Interestingly, the aircraft can carry 16,000 pounds of mixed ordnance eight
can fly under the wings and three under the fuselage.
Moreover, the most notable armament installed to this flying tank is the 30mm GAU-8 cannon. The
iconic sound many people think of when talking about this plane is the result of this weapon.
The GAU-8 has a range of nearly 12,000 feet and fires at an astonishing 3,900 rounds per
minute. This cannon has such a high velocity that targets never even hear the gunfire even
though the gun can put basketball-sized holes in vehicles after a strafe.
The A-10 also equipped with MK-82 bombs that are dropped directly on top of targets.
Lastly, the Warthog are also fitted with incendiary devices,
mine-dropping capabilities, and a multiple conventional munitions.
Talking about its operational history, the A-10 was used in combat for the first time during the
Gulf War in 1991. It showed its capacity in which it shot down two Iraqi helicopters with the GAU-8
cannon. The first of these was shot down by Captain Robert Swain over Kuwait on 6 February
1991 for the A-10's first air-to-air victory. Moreover, four A-10s were shot down during the
war by surface-to-air missiles and eleven A-10s were hit by anti-air artillery rounds. During
the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan, A-10s did not take part in the initial stages. For the campaign
against Taliban and Al Qaeda, A-10 squadrons were deployed to Pakistan and Bagram Air Base,
Afghanistan, beginning in March 2002. These A-10s participated in Operation Anaconda. Afterward,
A-10s remained in-country, fighting Taliban and Al Qaeda remnants.
In addition, there was a tragedy in which A-10 was hit by the enemy fire over Baghdad. While
deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Captain Campbell and her flight
were flying over downtown Baghdad during a close air support mission on April 7, 2003.
The two-ship formation of A-10s made several passes over the enemy location,
employing 30 mm bullets and high explosive rockets. After the rocket pass, the captain
was manoeuvrings off target when a large explosion happened at the back of the aircraft.
After realizing both of her hydraulics systems were impaired, Major Campbell
said she had to put the jet into manual reversion, as the back-up system. She
said that manual reversion is a system of cranks and cables that allow the pilot to
fly the aircraft under mechanical control. Fortunately, the jet responded and started
climbing out and away from Baghdad. Even though the jet has hundreds of small holes
in the fuselage and tail section on the right side as well as a football sized hole
on the right horizontal stabilizer, the captain could stay with the jet and try to land safely.
The future of this platform remains the subject of debate.
In 2007, the USAF expected the A-10 to remain in service until 2028 and possibly later,
when it would likely be replaced by the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II. Further,
it is mentioned that the Air Force 2018 budget plans to fund all 283 A-10 attack
planes and estimated that the Warthog would still be in operation into the future.
Following Pentagon commanders’ statement that the A-10 will not be retired until at least 2022, Air
Force and Department of Defence officials are now trying to maintain a close-air-support aircraft
for far longer than previously anticipated. Considering the current emerging global threat,
it is reasonable that the Air Force would seek to preserve an aircraft such as the
A-10. While the aircraft has performed extremely successful attacking ISIS targets such as fuel
convoys and other events, the A-10 is also typical plane that can carry and deliver
a wide-range of arsenal bombs to include larger laser-guided and precision weapons.