A-10 Fairchild Warthog (Aircraft Special Review)

  A-10 FAIRCHILD WARTHOG (THUNDERBOLT II)

ROLE                             Fixed-Wing close air support, Forward air control and ground
                                         attack aircraft

MANUFACTURER       Fairchild Republic

COUNTRY OF         
MANUFACTURE          United State

MANUFACTURED
FROM                            1977-Present

UNIT COST                   $18.8 Million

NUMBERS
BUILT                            716

MAX SPEED                (518mph , 833km/h)

TRAVEL RANGE         2,240 Nautical Miles , 4148 Kilometers

GUNS                            1 x 30mm  (1.18in) GAU - 8/A Avenger rotary Cannon with 1,174
                                        rounds (Capacity 1,350rd)

AVIONICS                     Pave Penny Laser Track Pod

SERVICE
CEILING                        13,716.00 Metres , 45,000.00 Feets

RATE OF 
CLIMB                           1,828.80mpm , 6,000.00 fpm

FUEL TANK
CAPACITY                     1,600.OO GALLON , 6,056.64 Litres

FUEL ECONOMY        0. 60 km per litre.

EXTERIOR
LENGTH                       16.26 Metres ,  53.35 feets.


     SPECIAL FEARTURES

*   Long loiter time
*   Low-Speed Maneuverability
*   Massive Cannon Firepower
*   Extreme Survivability

  The A-10 Fairchild Warthog is an exceptionally tough aircraft that is in service with the USAF. This aircraft has been in service for over 4 decades and it has proved itself in many battles, expecially in U.S campaigns in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and most recently, Syria. The Hog can survive a direct hits from armor-piercing and high explosive projectile up to 23mm and can still stay in the air even if it lose one engine, one elevator, and even with half of its tail missing. Its primary built-in weapon the 30mm Gau-8/ A Avenger Gatling-type Cannon is one of the biggest gun ever seen on a Military aircraft and it fires large depleted uranium armour-piercing shells and it fires at a rate of 3,900 rounds per minute.

       

  

      It can carry an AGM-65 Maverick air-to-surface Missile, cluster bombs, and Hydra rocket pods. The A-10 is also equipped to carry laser-guided bombs. A-10 usually fly with an ALQ-131 ECM pod under one wing and two AlM-9 sidewinder air to air missiles under the other wing for self defense 

  COMBAT HISTORY

  

 Though the A-10 Warthog has been in production since 1977 but it didn't see first hand combat until 1991 during the Gulf War and it prove to be a hit, destroying more than 900 Iraqi tanks, 2,000 other Military vehicles and 1,200 artillery pieces. A-10 also served in the NATO "Operation Deliberate Force" and flew close support Missions, attacking Bosnian Serb artillery and position.

         During the "Operation Allied Force" in the Balkan region (Kosovo) and the invasion of Afghanistan in the 2001, the Warthog also saw some combat terrorizing enemy positions. It was also involved in; Operation Anaconda, Operation Iraqi freedom of 2003, Operation Odyssey Dawn of 2011 in Libya and also seen combat against Islamic State Militants in Operation inherent resolve and few aircraft lost in action during this operations. The A-10 is expected to be in service till 2040 with few modifications.

          The Warthog which is the only production aircraft to have entered service with USAF is one of the most rugged Military aircraft in the world, though plagued with a sub-sonic speed, it make up for this with other improved features. It can take off from rough tracks and unprepared terrain even with a full load and the aircraft can be repaired with makeshift materials and parts and this can be done even on the field without the right equipment. The aircraft will be considered a catch for any air force that have it in its possession but unfortunately, it is yet not approved for export.

 

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