The US Air Force has recently started fielding a new improved version of the Super A-10 Warthog.
The Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II is a single-seat, twin-turbofan, straight-wing, subsonic attack aircraft developed by Fairchild Republic for the United States Air Force (USAF). In service since 1976, it is named for the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, a World War II-era fighter-bomber effective at attacking ground targets, but commonly referred to as the “Warthog” or “Hog”.
The A-10 was designed to provide close air support (CAS) to friendly ground troops by attacking armored vehicles, tanks, and other enemy ground forces; it is the only production-built aircraft designed solely for CAS to have served with the U.S. Air Force. Its secondary mission is to direct other aircraft in attacks on ground targets, a role called forward air controller-airborne; aircraft used primarily in this role are designated OA-10.
The A-10 was intended to improve on the performance and firepower of the Douglas A-1 Skyraider. Its airframe was designed for durability, with measures such as 1,200 pounds (540 kg) of titanium armor to protect the cockpit and aircraft systems, enabling it to absorb damage and continue flying. Its ability to take off and land from relatively short runways permits operation from airstrips close to the front lines, and its simple design enables maintenance with minimal facilities.
The A-10 served in the First Gulf War (Operation Desert Storm), the American–led intervention against Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait, where the aircraft distinguished itself. The A-10 also participated in other conflicts such as in Grenada, the Balkans, Afghanistan, Iraq, and against the Islamic State in the Middle East.
The A-10A single-seat variant was the only version produced, though one pre-production airframe was modified into the YA-10B twin-seat prototype to test an all-weather night-capable version. In 2005, a program was started to upgrade the remaining A-10A aircraft to the A-10C configuration, with modern avionics for use with precision weaponry. The U.S. Air Force had stated the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II would replace the A-10 as it entered service, but this remains highly contentious within the USAF and in political circles. With a variety of upgrades and wing replacements, the A-10’s service life can be extended to 2040.
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Sources: YouTube; Wikipedia
[see also: A-10s Headed to CENTCOM to Bolster Air Force Presence ]
The A10 aircraft is a phenomenally well designed aircraft -as its cost is 1/15 the price of a J. S. F F-35
Since The inception of this unique design and as to its performance it has demonstrated it’s “metal” in war and in conflicts all over the globe.
Sadly ,the armchair” W. O. K. E “politicians and some generals from the Pentagon including General Miley and the secretary defense “Austin “have no real idea as to how to really manage the capability of this incredible aircraft Per many analysts and individuals in the Pentagon who are not “WOKE!”.
Thank goodness for U.S. Senator John McCain who fought them years ago to keep the A-10 in production and in-service.
This is the only logical close Ground Support aircraft we have that can do what it does and survive.!
For the dollars invested in this aircraft and its capability we should always keep it to support the Marines and ground support units !
Why?..because we know the CCP would like us to get rid of it!
Keep this A-10 flying !
I agree with you that the A-10 is a fantastic aircraft that fills an important role. But which is it, W.O.K.E or WOKE? Oh, wait, you have no idea do you? Just throwing out the latest popular put down even though it has nothing to do with military readiness.
Keep the A-10. There is no other aircraft that can do the job it does, It took people like Col. John Boyd, Pierre Spey and the Fighter Mafia the push the Air Force to build effective aircraft. Do not let them take it away.
None of those men had a damn thing to do with the A-10. Alexander Kartveli was the Designer, a simple Google search will tell you that.
I am a so-called woke person and I even understand the logic of keeping a dedicated close support aircraft. The Warthog needs to be upgraded or replaced with a sixth generation, heavily armored close support plane.
Why?
The A10 is a sunk cost.
With the now upgraded avionics and re-winging accomplished, why retire it?
Every new F35 that goes down is $100mm+
An A10? $0.00
In addition the A10 has the lowest per hour maintenance cost while the F35 near to the highest after the B2.
The Pentagon is always blinded by the new stuff while much of the old should be refurbished.
100% agree, CDR, as a former USAF TACP Forward Air Control, Close Air Support (prior to JTAC), there is nothing in our air inventory matching or even coming close to the A-10. Used in conjunction with the Apache helicopter and ground artillery, the enemy scarcely had time to anything but either duck for cover or run. Or die.
Amen!!! Couldn’t have said it better myself! 👍
Testing it’s “mettle”, not “metal… SMH
I think it was intentional.
The a-10 is the very best for ground support of and troops to vac safely
.
What does being socially aware have to do with aircraft selection. There are sources outside of the Fox News sphere that don’t over use the “woke” term. You should check them out
I agree that the A-10 needs to be replaced. However the replacement needs to be a substantial dedicated ground support aircraft. This is the only type of plane that can competentlytake on all ground support roles as well as assure our troops that they have a dedicated platform overhead. I do not think this would beyond the design capabilities of Air Force contractor. The problem is that the USAF approaches this mission in one of two ways. First they wish to assign the close support the mission to a multiple mission aircraft like the F35. Alternatively they want to develope a cheap less capable prop driven aircraftĺ as a light support prop driven that would be less capable than the A10. It seems if the Air Force does not want this mission it should be transferred to the Army. It is understandable that troops want a deadly dedicated plane overhead. The Russian Ukraine war seems to demonstrate that a maneuverable stealthy tough plane of this type would be effective. Helecopters are evolving into faster stealthy platforms to remain relevant. It makes sense the A-10 should evolve as well.
Yes! Let the army take the lead. They could probably get a completely comparable but upgraded close ground support fighter design done in a year or two using mostly off the shelf components from other in production air frames. Add armor and a lot of bullets and you have a winner.
A-14 Wild Wolf
Maybe put an A10 fleet out to bid and see what comes back
Next to no development costs and it really should be a Marine aircraft not USAF
Marines. They already have the infrastructure
Beef-up existing A-10 engine pilons, use a modern “CF-34” engine and replace the 1st generation TF-34…DOUBLES THE POWER (the BIGGEST WEAKNESS IN HOT/LESS DENSE AIR!)…and DOUBLES the power for only a 20% increase in fuel consumption!!!!
At 1/15th the cost, with 1200 pounds of Titanium Armor (a massive 5% of the overall weight – WAY MORE than an F-35!!!)…
There is clearly a huge role available for such low altitude fighter-bombers in protecting the new littoral regiments now being scattered within the Pacific island chains. It should nor require “stealth” technology, as this domain consists mainly of friendly or allied nations. It may well require modest upgrades of the current A-10 model for carrier launches, operation on floats from sea island lagoons, and/or for operation from hidden remote air strips. They are also well suited as escorts for the (now amphibious) cargo planes recently upgraded as covert island-based bombers, launching palette-loaded cruise missiles against Chinese maritime attackers.
Not a pilot; but I can read, study and apply common sense to an issue. The more informed postings have a lot of excellent content. So here’s the technically inhibited opinion of an average taxpayer. First, bang for the buck on this plane sounds great. Second, combat losses seem low and looking at pictures of shot-up A-10’s that got their pilots home reminds me of B-17’s. Third, looking at the characteristics, performance, armaments and loiter time, an upgrade of existing stock from real good to a lot better is surely warranted. Fourth, a Viet Nam Artillery fire control veteran told me that artillery support was one thing for an embattled unit; but when a Cobra w/mini-gun came on station, that the fighting usually subsided. It sounds like, the A-10 has the same effect. Lastly, if marines and soldiers on the ground want it and pilots are willing to employ it in close combat; then, make it faster, more weapons and bullets and upgrade pilot protection. Use the F-35’s for their top cover. Just saying!
The problem is that the Air Force has no troops on the ground so they don’t understand getting low and slow to protect the troops. I really think that, like the Navy having their own “Air Force”, the Army should have an integrated air wing that handles the Helos and the CAS aircraft. The A-10 is one the most innovative aircraft ever built- update it, but at some point it will need to be replaced- maybe just update the design and then build the modified copies.