FAIRCHILD REPUBLIC A-10 THUNDERBOLT II: AIRCRAFT DESIGNED TO DESTROY GROUND TARGETS.

In the early 1970s, when the USAF was considering an aircraft capable of halting a Soviet armoured thrust in Central Europe, they looked back at their experiences in Korea and Vietnam where aircraft modified for use in the close air support role had exhibited many shortcomings. Instead they needed a purpose designed aircraft that could carry a heavy weapons load, have good endurance and be able to withstand damage from ground fire.

The answer was a remarkable A-10 designed from the outset to tackle Warsaw Pact armour in Europe. Combining accurate firepower and survivability the A-10 was designed to fly low and relatively slowly across the battlefield to take out enemy armour and artillery in the very hostile low level battlefield environment. The aircraft has high lift wings fitted with large control surfaces, making the aircraft very manoeuvrable while its short take off and landing capability permitted operations in and out of rough field locations near front lines.

All the aircraft’s controls are duplicated and designed to work even if hydraulic pressure is lost due to enemy fire. The aircraft’s fuel tanks are filled with fire retardant foam and the A-10’s pilot sits in a

“bathtub” of titanium armour for protection against shrapnel and small arms fire.

The aircraft can survive direct hits from armour piercing and high explosive projectiles up to 23mm/0.9in calibre. Self sealing fuel cells are protected by internal and external foam. Remarkably many of the aircraft’s parts are interchangeable left and right, including the engines, main landing gear and fins.

The primary weapon of the A-10 is the nose mounted GAU-8/A 30mm/1.18in seven barrel cannon which together with its ammunition takes up much of the aircraft’s internal space. This is the most powerful ever fitted to an aircraft firing 35 rounds of controversial depleted uranium armour piercing ammunition per second. One hit from this extremely potent weapon can destroy a tank a mile away from the aircraft. The aircraft can also carry a range of bombs, rockets and missiles including the Maverick anti-armour missile.

Turbofan engines were chosen to power the aircraft because they give off less heat than conventional jet engines, thus making them less vulnerable to heat-seeking weapons. The engines were also positioned high on the upper rear fuselage, protecting them from ground fire. Using night vision goggles A-10 pilots can conduct their missions as efficiently during darkness as in daylight.

TF34-GE-100 Turbofan

The A-10 entered USAF service in 1976 and remained in the Cold War front line until the late 1980s. Although trained for war in Europe, USAF A-10 pilots first saw action in the Gulf War of 1991 when 144 A-10 were deployed to Saudi Arabia. During the A-10’s 8100 Gulf War mission around 24,000 missiles, rockets and bombs were fired or dropped and one million rounds were fired by A-10 cannon. A-10s launched 90 per cent of the total number of the AGM-65 Maverick missiles used.

USAF A-10’s were credited with the destruction over 1000 Iraqi tanks, 1200 artillery pieces and 2000 vehicles as well as two helicopters in air to air combat with air to air missiles. Only six aircrafts were lost in the war all to ground launched enemy missiles.