Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II

The A-10/OA-10 Thunderbolt II, usually known by its unofficial nickname "Warthog", is the first US Air Force aircraft designed for close air support (CAS) of ground forces. It is a simple, effective and hardy single-seat, twin-engine jet aircraft designed to attack tanks, armored vehicles, and other ground targets. It is named after the P-47 Thunderbolt of World War II, a plane that was particularly good at the CAS mission.

Origins

The A-10 was developed in response to the increasing vulnerability of ground attack-planes as evidenced by the large number that were shot down to small arms fire, surface-to-air missiles, and low level anti-aircraft gunfire during the Vietnam War. This led to a need for a specialized, heavily armed, heavily armored aircraft. Previous aircraft used in the CAS mission had been bombers or fighters pressed into the job.

On 6 March 1967 the US Air Force released a request for information to 21 companies. Their objective was to create a design study for a low cost attack aircraft designated A-X, or "Attack Experimental". In May 1970, the USAF issued a modified, yet much more detailed request for proposals (RFP). Six companies submitted contestants to the USAF, with Northrop and Fairchild Republic selected to build prototypes: the YA-9A and YA-10A, respectively.

First flight of the A-10 was in May 1972. After trials and a flyoff against the A-9, the Air Force selected Fairchild-Republic's A-10 as the winner on 10 January 1973. The first production A-10 flew in October 1975, and deliveries to the Air Force commenced in March 1976. The first squadron to use the A-10 went operational in October 1977. 715 aircraft were produced, ending in 1984.

One experimental two-seat version was built. The Night Adverse Weather aircraft was developed by Fairchild from an A-10 prototype for consideration by the USAF. It included a second seat for a weapons officer responsible for ECM, navigation, and target acquisition. The variant was cancelled and the only two-seat A-10 built now sits at Edwards AFB awaiting a spot in the Flight Test Historical Foundation museum.

Features

The A-10/OA-10 has excellent maneuverability at low speeds and altitude, thanks to wide, straight wings. These also allow short takeoffs and landings, permitting operations from airfields near front lines. The plane can loiter for extended periods of time and operate under 1,000 foot (300 m) ceilings with 1.5-mile (2.4 km) visibility. It can fly at a relatively slow speed of 200 mph (320 km/h), which makes it better at ground-attack than fast fighter-bombers, which often have difficulty targeting small and slow-moving targets.

The 'Warthog' is exceptionally hardy, with a strong airframe that can survive direct hits from armor-piercing and high-explosive projectiles up to 23 mm. The aircraft has triple redundancy in its flight systems, with mechanical systems to back up double-redundant hydraulic systems. This permits pilots to fly and land when hydraulic power or part of a wing is lost. The aircraft is designed to fly with one engine and a wing torn off. Self-sealing fuel tanks are protected by fire-retardant foam. Additionally, the main landing gear is designed so that the wheels semi-protrude from their nacelles when the gear is retracted so as to make gear-up landings (belly landing) easier to control and less damaging to the aircraft's underside.

The cockpit and parts of the flight-control system are protected by 900 pounds (400 kg) of titanium armor, referred to as a "titanium bathtub." The tub has been tested to withstand multiple strikes from 20 mm cannon fire. The thickness of the titanium varies from ½ an inch to 1½ inches determined by study on likely trajectories and deflection angles. This protection comes at a cost though, the armour plating itself weighs almost 6% of the entire aircraft’s empty weight. To protect the pilot from the fragmentation likely to be created from impact of a shell any interior surface of the bath that is directly exposed to the pilot is covered by a multi-layer nylon spall shield. The protection for the pilot from above obviously comes second to the necessity for the pilot to have good all-round vision. The canopy can not protect the pilot as well as the titanium but the bullet-proof diffusion-bonded stretched-acrylic canopy can withstand small arms fire and is spall-resistant, although the canopy needs to be penetrable by the ejection seat.

Engine exhaust passes over the aircraft's horizontal stabilizer and between the twin tails, decreasing the A-10's infrared signature and lowering the likelihood that the aircraft can be targeted by heatseeking missiles. The placement of the engines partially shields them from anti-aircraft fire behind the wings and tail. The A-10 can fly even after the loss of one side of the tail, 2/3 of a single wing, and one engine.

The A-10 has integrally machined skin panels. Because the stringers are integral with the skin there are no join or seal problems. These panels built using computer driven machines reduce the man-hours and hence the cost of manufacture. The tests of war have shown that this type of skin is more battle-hardy.

Most thin flat areas of the airframe are honeycomb panels. This is because thin honeycomb sandwich panels are less likely to deform in any direction than sheet metal panels even if part of the panel has been blown off or structurally compromised. Such honeycomb panels on this aircraft include the flap shrouds, the elevators, the rudders and other sections of the fins. The leading edge of the mainplane is honeycomb to provide strength with minimal weight compromise.

The ailerons are at the far ends of the wings to gain greater rolling moment as with most aircraft but there are two distinguishing features. Firstly the ailerons are huge, almost 50% of the chord, this provides improved control even at slow speeds. But also the aileron is split so when the two halves are separated they act as extreme dive-brakes. There are also trim tabs on both the ailerons to allow the pilot to alter role stability in the event of damage or severe cross winds and to reduce load on aileron actuators.

The Thunderbolt II can be serviced and operated from bases with limited facilities near battle areas. An unusual feature is that many of the aircraft's parts are interchangeable between the left and right sides, including the engines, main landing gear, and vertical stabilizers. A built-in ladder allows the pilot to enter or exit the aircraft without assistance. The sturdy landing gear, low-pressure tires and large, straight wings allow operation from short rough strips even with a heavy ordnance load. These also allow the aircraft to operate from damaged airbases. The aircraft is designed to be re-fueled, re-armed, and serviced with minimal equipment. Operating from a forward area is both useful for close air support and necessary due to the A-10's relatively low cruise and top speeds.

One of the characteristic features of this aircraft, making it so identifiable, is the placement of the huge General Electric TF34-GE-100 turbofan engines. There are many reasons for the location of the engines on the Warthog. Firstly as this aircraft was expected to be operated from forward air bases, often with semi-prepared substandard runways, there would be a high risk of FOD (Foreign Object Damage). The height of the engines significantly lowers the chance of sand or stones damaging the complex parts of the jet engines. This also allows the engines to remain running even while ground crew work to achieve quick servicing and rearming turn-around times, helped further by the height of the wings off the ground being lower than if the engines were under-slung or integral to the wing. As mentioned above the position also reduces the IR signature which starts low anyway due to the high bypass ratio of the engines. The bypass ratio is 6:1 and so the engines are very quiet which aids against detection. Because of this high position of the engines the thrust line would act above the longitudinal aerodynamic axis so to avoid nuisance trimming measures the engine tailpipes are angled at nine degrees upwards bring the combined thrust line down through the centre of gravity.

The engines, particularly heavy pieces of kit, require a high degree of strength in their support. Therefore forged engine-mounting nacelle frames are pin jointed to machined support beams.

All four fuel tanks are near the centre of the aircraft thus decreasing the likelihood of them being hit or being separated from the engines. There are several methods employed to protect the tanks themselves. The tanks are separate to the fuselage and so projectiles would need to penetrate the skin before reaching the tank. The refuelling system is purged after use so that there is no fuel unprotected anywhere in the aircraft. All pipes self-seal if they are compromised. Most of the fuel system components are situated inside the tanks so that if a leak were to occur from the component the fuel would not be lost. If a tank does get damaged there are check valves that can ensure that fuel does not flow into. The most important fuel system protection aid is the reticulated polyurethane foam that is sprayed into the empty space in a tank holding debris and restricting fuel spillage in the event of damage. The other source of possible combustion, the engines, are shielded from the fuel system and the rest of the airframe by firewalls and fire extinguishing equipment.

Although the A-10 can carry a considerable weight of disposable stores, its primary built-in weapon is the 30 mm GAU-8/A Avenger Gatling gun. One of the most powerful aircraft cannon ever flown, it fires large, depleted uranium armor-piercing shells at a rate of 4,200 rounds per minute. The massive shells and high muzzle velocity allow the Avenger to destroy heavily armored main battle tanks in as little as 6 direct hits. The gun is accurate as well, capable of placing 80% of its shots within a 30 ft. wide circle from a distance of 1 mile while the aircraft is in flight. The chassis of the plane is actually built around the gun (for instance, the nosewheel is offset to starboard so that the gun can be aligned on the centreline.) The A-10 carries 1,350 rounds of 30mm ammunition and the damage caused by a proportion of those rounds prematurely firing from impact of an explosive shell would be catastrophic. It is for this reason that a great deal of effort has been taken to protect the 5ft wide, 9ft long drum. There are many plates of varying thickness’ between the skin and the drum, these plates are called trigger plates because when an explosive shell hits a target it first penetrates its armour then detonates, as the drum has many layers of thin armour the shells detonation is triggered before reaching the drum. Then a final layer of armour around the drum itself protects it from fragmentation damage.

Despite the power of the GAU-8, the principal weapon of the A-10 is the AGM-65 Maverick air-to-surface missile, with electro-optical targeting. The Maverick allows targets to be engaged at much greater ranges than the cannon, a safer proposition in the face of modern anti-aircraft systems. During Desert Storm, in the absence of NVG, the Maverick's camera was used for night missions. Other weapons include cluster bombs and rocket pods. Although the A-10 is equipped to deliver conventional and laser-guided bombs, their use is relatively uncommon. A-10s usually fly with an ECM pod under one wing and two AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles under the other for self-defense.

Criticisms

The A-10 has been criticized for its minimal avionics fit. It was originally intended purely for close air support, for which it was felt that complex electronics would be unnecessary (and would have an undesirable effect on serviceability and cost). Initial fit provided basic communications, a radar-warning system, and TACAN navigation, early aircraft lacking even an autopilot. As USAF emphasis shifted towards the anti-armor role, presumably in a conflict with the Warsaw Pact in Western Europe, where weather is frequently poor, there was pressure for improved sensors and electronics. Fairchild-Republic offered a two-seat NAW (Night and Adverse Weather) variant beginning in 1977, but it was not adopted. Aircraft were eventually upgraded with inertial navigation and a Pave Penny laser sensor (marked target seeker) pod that allowed the pilot to detect laser energy for PID (Positive Identification) of an illuminated target. The Pave Penny is a passive seeker and cannot self-designate a target for an LGB (Laser Guided Bomb). However, the A-10 can drop LGBs with the help of another aircraft (Buddy-Lase) or, when equipped with a targeting pod, Self-Lase. The A-10 Thunderbolt II was offered to the Pakistan Air Force as part of a package including the F-20. They opted to buy the multirole F-16 instead.

The A-10 also initially lacked systems to compute target range or impact points, greatly limiting its ability to deliver weapons other than cannon and rocket fire (in direct, visual-range attacks) or the self-guided AGM-65 Maverick missile, whose own sensors displayed imagery in the A-10's cockpit. Often times this small monitor would provide the only source of imagery for missions that took place in dark environments. Much later in the 'Warthog's' career, the Low-Altitude Safety and Targeting Enhancement (LASTE) upgrade provided computerized weapon-aiming equipment, an autopilot, and ground-collision warning system. The A-10 is now compatible with night-vision goggles for low-light operation. In 1999, aircraft began to be given Global Positioning System navigation systems.

Operational service

The first unit to receive the A-10 Thunderbolt II was the 355th Tactical Training Wing, based at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona in March 1976.

A-10s were initially an unwelcome addition to the arsenal in the eyes of Air Force brass. The Air Force prized the high-flying, high-performance F-15 and F-16 jets, and were determined to leave the dirty work of close air support to Army helicopters.

The planes proved their mettle in the Persian Gulf War in 1991, destroying more than 1,000 tanks, 2,000 military vehicles and 1,200 artillery pieces. Five A-10s were shot down during the war (a number of those by ZSU-23-4 Shilka), far fewer than military planners expected. A-10s had a mission capable rate of 95.7%, flew 8,100 sorties and launched 90% of the AGM-65 Maverick missiles.

In the 1990s many A-10s were shifted to the "forward air control (FAC)" role and redesignated O/A-10. In the FAC role the 'Warthog' is typically equipped with up to six pods of 5 inch (127 mm) Zuni rockets, usually with smoke or white phosphorus warheads used for target marking. They remain fully combat capable despite the redesignation.

A-10s again saw service in the 1999 Kosovo War, in later stages of the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan from an air base at Bagram, including Operation Anaconda in March 2002, and in the 2003 Iraq war. Sixty A-10s were deployed in Iraq; one was shot down near Baghdad International Airport by Iraqi fire late in the campaign.

A-10 pilots have been involved in a number of notorious 'friendly fire' incidents. In the Gulf War of 1991 an A-10 attacked two British Army Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicles (out of 37 parked up), killing nine soldiers. Two British Scimitar armored reconnaissance vehicles were attacked by an A-10 in the Iraq War of 2003. They were also involved in a friendly fire incident with a U.S. Marine Amphibious Assault Vehicle at the Battle of Nasiriyah during the opening stages of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The A-10 is scheduled to stay in service with the USAF until 2028, when it may be replaced by the Joint Strike Fighter. Beginning in 2005 the entire A-10 fleet is being upgraded to the "C" model that will include improved FCS (fire control system), ECM (electronic countermeasures), and the ability to carry smart bombs. However, the A-10 could stay in service indefinitely due to both its low cost and its unique capabilities which the Joint Strike Fighter simply cannot incorporate such as its cannon, ruggedness, and slow flying capabilities.

Nicknames

Friendly Forces

The A-10 Thunderbolt II received the nickname "Warthog" and dates back to Fairchild-Republic's initial deliveries. The name was derived from the report of the main gun, which has a surprisingly low pitch and sounds much like the snorting or grunting of a hog. This coupled with the A-10's lack of aesthetics and "thick skin" earned it the nickname "Warthog".

"During the development of the 30 mm round for the Gau-8 Gatling Gun on the A-10 the ordnance engineers ran into the problem of smoke "blow-black." The tremendous rate of fire caused large amounts of smoke to stream back into the jet engines and choke off the air supply. The Fairchild-Republic tried to solve the problem by installing two large plates on either side of the Gau-8. These projections gave the aircraft a blunt-nosed look that caused it to earn the nickname "Warthog." Later smokeless powder was employed and the plates were removed. Reference: Aerojet General Manufacturing Plant, 30-mm production engineers, Chino CA

Enemy Forces

At the time of the Gulf War captured Iraqi tank crews referred to it as "whispering death" while Iraqi soldiers and Afghan Taliban have in recent times also referred to the A-10 as "the silent gun". In both cases this can be attributed to the rounds travelling supersonically and therefore striking their target before the report of the gunfire or the A-10 itself is heard.

Another nickname that has been attributed to Fedayeen fighters in Iraq is "the devil's cross" after the shape of the aircraft.

Trivia

The GAU-8/A 30 mm Avenger cannon is said to produce almost the same amount of force as one of the A-10's engines, leading to a persistent military legend that if enough bullets could be carried and fired in a long burst, the plane would stop flying (or move backwards, in some versions of the legend). Using the specs from the GAU-8/A product homepage, the recoil force of the GAU-8/A is measured to an average of 10,000 lbf (45 kN). While the recoil force is considerable, the cannon is employed only in short bursts to protect the barrel cluster from overheating. Even if both engines were stopped and the jet was gliding unpowered, firing the cannon will not bring it to a stop in midair, only slow it down much in the same manner as if an airbrake was deployed.

Of further note on the impressive cannon recoil force, the A-10's nosewheel gear assembly is situated in the less than optimal off-center-line position (immediately starboard of the gun). This design feature was necessary to accommodate the GAU-8 in the center-line position as off-center placement would result in potentially catastrophic yaw forces on firing the cannon.

Variants

YA-10A : The first two prototypes.
A-10A : Single-seat close air support, ground-attack version.
OA-10A : Single-seat forward air control version.
Night/Adverse Weather A-10 : Two-seat experimental prototype, for night and adverse weather work. Later redesignated YA-10B. One aircraft only.

Operators

United States Air Force

Specifications (A-10 Thunderbolt II)

Data from The Great Book of Modern Warplanes^[1]

General characteristics

Crew: 1
Airfoil: NACA 6716 root, NACA 6713 tip

Performance

Thrust/weight: 0.36

Armament

Guns: 1× 30 mm (1.18 in) GAU-8/A Avenger gatling gun with 1,350 rounds
Hardpoints: 8× underwing and 3× under-fuselage pylon stations holding up to 16,000 lb (7,200 kg) and accommodating:
- Mark 82, Mark 83, and Mark 84 general-purpose bombs or
- Mk 77 incendiary bombs or
- BLU-1, BLU-27/B Rockeye II, BL755 and CBU-52/58/71/87/89/97 cluster bombs or
- GBU-10 Paveway II, GBU-12 Paveway II, GBU-16 Paveway II and GBU-24 Paveway III laser-guided bombs or
- AGM-65 Maverick and AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles or
- LAU-68 Hydra 70 mm (2.76 in) and 127 mm (5.0 in) rocket pods or
- Illumination flares, ECM and chaff pods or
- ALQ-131 ECM pod

References

^ Spick, M. (2000). The Great Book of Modern Warplanes. Salamander Books. p. 21. ISBN 1840651563.