US upgrades A-10 attack aircraft

The United States Air Force will receive 56 additional wing sets for the A-10 Thunderbolt II (Thunderbolt II) Aircraft from Boeing Co. aviation support for ground forces.

These kits will be used when upgrading the fleet of A-10 aircraft and will extend their life to 2035.

In total, the United States Air Force plans to order the 242 wing for the modernization of the A-10 aircraft fleet. The use of the new wing will increase the availability of 4 percent and will allow the US Air Force to save 1,3 billion on maintenance for the next 30 years.

The order for 56 kits is estimated by the sum of 212 million. Taking into account the final batch of supplied wings, the US Air Force ordered them in the number of 173 units.

A-10 attack aircraft are used to suppress all types of ground targets, including Tanks and other military armored vehicles.

Comments

[a52333]

It can be seen that the "strike on ground targets". It can only be used when the enemy air force is completely suppressed (or not). Iron with wings.

[alone]

and they do so .a-10, just like the ground forces begin to operate when only Americanosovskie planes fly in the sky.

[Argon]

It’s a very successful car, and most in demand in conditions of local conflicts, and according to the descriptions (oddly enough) it is piloted nicely and is not sickly, they write, the amers plan to remake them in combat drones. In this vein, buying ZiPa is quite justified.

[IRBIS]

Quote: Argon

A very successful, and most in demand in a local conflict machine,

One of the best stormtroopers in the world. And the Americans should not be considered "not distant" in their field of application. Well, they mastered the competent use of aviation for their intended purpose quite well. And the ability to achieve and use air superiority is more an advantage than a disadvantage.

[Andrey77]

If not one of the best. The machine is plain, but has a huge reserve for modernization.

[denson06]

Plus, it carries a good load .. you do not need to look at the performance characteristics, just see the photo ..

[crazyrom]

This is the only plane in the world that makes me feel a bit envious. They built an airplane around the most powerful cannon, especially since it also shoots uranium bullets. Theoretically, in one burst this "iron" destroys an entire column of armored vehicles, along with tanks (probably light ones after all).

[Kipish]

unless they should be replaced with the F-35, or they themselves began to understand the sadness of this unit.

[Wedmak]

they themselves began to understand the sadness of this unit.

This unit, in addition to the sorrowiness of the TTX compared to the A-10, has a wild price. And also the technologies that, in the event of the downing of the F-35 (and it doesn’t have armor!), Will get ... to where the Americans would not want to.

[crazyrom]

Take a look at my comment a little higher, this A-10 cannot be replaced with Ф-35, Ф-35 is much more fragile and it does not have such firepower.

[Patriot8482]

"One of the Best" And please tell me what other attack aircraft are there and who has it? Su-25 does not count, it is just the best.

[Patriot8482]

For what Minus, if you put a minus to the usual question, then at least take the trouble to explain what the reason is.

[fastblast]

Thanks, Cap! )))

[Army1]

Rook no worse

[Siberian German]

this iron, with your permission, is well-armored and armed - it’s not funny if it goes along targets or you, as at the beginning of the Russian bombardment, are ready to send

[Vlad_Mir]

His gun is awesome!

[b-612]

yes, I wanted to throw a picture with this cool gun and it didn’t work out, but the quote remained and you won’t delete it (in the sense I’m not a troll))))

[Wedmak]

Admire.

[King]

Suncurrent Su-24

[Cat]

Quote: King

Suncurrent Su-24

You probably meant the Su-25?

[Wedmak]

No ... it's a competitor to Su-25. Moreover, a very strong competitor.

[Russ69]

So the plane itself was created around the gun.

[Vtel]

US Air Force will receive 56 additional wing sets for A-10 attack aircraft from Boeing Co.

And as many sets of diapers. Hands off Syria.

[Evgeny_Lev]

Strange, they also have the 35th)))

[Airman]

Quote: Evgeny_Lev

Strange, they also have the 35th)))

Nothing strange, the F-35 needs to be brought to mind, but to fight with something, it’s necessary to modernize the A-10.

[Evgeny_Lev]

The last time on the thunderbolts we fought in the second part of the transformers.

[Cat]

I liked it better in the last "Terminator"

[Cat]

Quote: Evgeny_Lev

Strange, they also have the 35th)))

Well, it’s like airplanes of completely different classes and concepts. The closest Soviet counterpart to the A-10 is the Su-25. Well, for the F-35 - probably PAX.

[Wedmak]

Well, for F-35 - probably PAX.

Rather, the MiG-35. PAK FA analog F-22. And in the same weight category.

[Aleks tv]

It's a shame that A-10 is being upgraded.
Very nice machine.

Lana, remember, just in case, that Thunderbolt is too early to write off.

[Andrey77]

And what the hell? We must develop ourselves.

[Aleks tv]

Quote: Andrey77

And what the hell?

Andrey, I figuratively put it.

Thunderbolt is a very successful aircraft, a sort of workhorse.
It is aimed at fighting armored vehicles, so my old reflexes "turned on".

Lana, we'll break through anyway.

Quote: Andrey77

We must develop ourselves.

So it is too early to write off our Rook, so it should be "stuffed" in a normal way, this is a question for our esteemed flyers, how much the Su-25TM (Su-39) corresponds to its purpose in modern conditions.

And in the NE, the topic of protecting the upper projections remained topical. In this regard, the new T-72B3 is rather weak, the T-90 is slightly better. T-90ms - OK.
The truth is to face and ... bring to mind.
Something like that.

[Andrey77]

Rook (24th) is not a competitor to the A10 even once. Unfortunately. I wouldn’t want to be in the aviation industry, and in handling. :(

[Raven1972]

Quote: Andrey77

Rook (24th)

In fact, Rook is a Su-25))) Look at them with the A-10 characteristics and compare - they are practically one in one ... And as for the handling, read the pilots who flew the Su-25x, especially the Afghans, in what condition aircraft returned to the base periodically, it is unlikely that the A-10 will be able to repeat this ....
But I will not even compare the Su-24 with the Worthog - if only because the 24th is a supersonic bomber

[svp67]

Quote: Aleks tv

And in the NE, the topic of protecting the upper projections remained topical. In this regard, the new T-72B3 is rather weak, the T-90 is slightly better. T-90ms - OK

It would be interesting to look at "Armata" from this point of view "out of the corner of the eye"

[Raven1972]

Quote: Aleks tv

Thunderbolt is too early to write off.

Like the Su-25 / Su-25T, ours in Afghanistan have been tested for strength, but the A-10 cannot boast of such successes
But the gun on the A-10 is certainly cool, I can’t say anything

[alone]

you are mistaken, and in the first and second Iraqi companies, the a-10 showed all its power.

[Andrey77]

Your country to name, where A10 proved to be: Iraq, Yugoslavia, Afghanistan. Moreover, in Yugoslavia, the stealth F-117 was shot down, but not a single warthog A-10.

[Raven1972]

And how did he show himself there? Please provide examples))) Something of loud air shakes about its use is somehow not observed
Andrei, I’m not saying that the A-10 is a bad aircraft, but its characteristics are comparable to the Su-25, which was brought to mind on the basis of Afghan experience in application, and a lot of changes were made to the design, for example, additional protection for control rods, engines .. The mere fact that our pilot is in a titanium armored capsule makes it a completely different aircraft, I doubt that on the A-10 the pilot and aircraft mechanisms are protected in the same way as the Su-25 / Su-25T ... And replacing the glider elements for modernization take it well somehow frivolously ...

[svp67]

Quote: Aleks tv

It's a shame that A-10 is being upgraded.
Very nice machine.

Two contradictory statements. But in them the truth. A very dangerous aircraft that can greatly complicate the life of the enemy on the battlefield

[NOBODY EXCEPT US]

I’m interested in the moment why it’s beneficial for amers to modernize something, but it’s always more expensive than new things to do. Mysticism ........

[iSpoiler]

who told you that .. ??
you have been deceived, we essentially just do what we upgrade. Really new units built.
in the photo su-39, so to speak, our answer is a direct competitor to the a-10, a deeply modernized su-25 .... the truth is in the late 80s ..))) but this does not change the essence.

Specifications (from Wikipedia)
Crew: 1 pilot
Length: 15,33 m (with LDPE)
Wingspan: 14,36 m
Height: 5,2 m
Wing area: 30,1 m²
Wing Extension Ratio: 6
Leading edge sweep angle: 20 °
The base chassis: 3,58 m
Track Chassis: 2,5 m
Weight empty: 10 740 kg
Curb weight: 13 150 kg
Normal takeoff weight: 16 990 kg
Maximum takeoff weight: 20 500 kg
Mass fuel in internal tanks: 3 840 kg
Powerplant: 2 × turbojet engine R-195
Thrust: 2 × 4 kgf (300 kN)

Flight characteristics
Maximum speed: 950 km / h (with normal combat load)
Landing speed: 240 km / h
Dumping speed: 175 km / h
Practical range: (with normal combat load)
on high:
without PTB: 900 km
with 4 × PTB-800: 1 250 km
by the ground:
without PTB: 400 km
from 4 × PTB-800: 750 km
Ferry range: 2 km (with two tank destroyers of 500 liters and two of 1150 liters)
Ceiling: 10 000 m
Altitude combat use: 30 - 7 000 m
Wing load: 714 kg / m² (at maximum take-off weight)
Thrust-to-weight ratio: 0,42 (at max. Take-off weight)
the run length:
on concrete runway: 550 m
on unpaved runway: 600 m
Mileage: (without brake parachute)
on concrete runway: 400 m
on unpaved runway: 600 m
Maximum operational overload:
with normal combat load: + 6,5 / -2 g
with maximum combat load: + 5,2 g
weaponry
Rifle-cannon: double-barrel 30 mm GSh-30-2 cannon with ammunition capacity of 200 sn.
Suspension Points: 11
The combat load:
normal: 2 000 kg
Maximum: 6 000 kg
Guided Missiles:
missiles "air-air":
2 × P-60 (AA-8)
2 × R-73 or R-27R / T or R-77
air-to-surface missiles:
16 × Whirlwind supersonic anti-tank missiles or
4 × X-25L / ML / MTP / MA / MPU and
2 × X-29L / T or X-58 or X-31A / AD / P or X-35 (with Spear radar) or
8 × C-25L
Unguided rockets:
160 (8 × 20) × 80 mm S-8 in B-8 blocks or
40 (8 × 5) × 122 mm S-13 in B-13 blocks or
8 × 240 mm S-24 or 266 mm S-25
Bombs: svobodnopadayuschie and responsive for various purposes, cluster bombs
8 × 500 kg (FAB-500, RBC-500, etc.) or
8 × 250 kg (FAB-250, RBC-250, etc.) or
8 or 32 × 100 kg or
6 × KAB-500Kr or
8 × containers KMGU-2
Gun containers:
4 × SPPU-22-1 with a double-barrel 23 mm gun GSH-23 with 260 sn. or
4 × SPPU-687 with a 30 mm gun GSh-301 with 150 sn.
Avionics
Radar: "Spear-25" (outboard)
Antenna:
Type: crevice
Diameter: 500 mm
Scan Angle:
height: + 25 ° / -55 °
in azimuth: ± 40 °
Viewing areas: ± 10 ° / ± 20 ° / ± 40 °
Detection range of an air target with EPR = 5 m²:
in free space:
towards: 57 km
pursuit: 30 km
on the background of the earth:
towards: 57 km
pursuit: 20 km
Number of simultaneously tracked targets: 8
Number of simultaneously attacked targets: 2
Ground Target Detection Range:
destroyer type:> 200 km
type of railway bridge: 100 km
type group of moving tanks: 20 km
Maximum resolution in mapping mode: 10 × 5 m (range × azimuth)
ECO: Flurry
Viewing angle:
daytime control device:
wide: 2,7 × 3,6 °
narrow: 0,73 × 0,97 °
night control device:
wide: 18,2 × 13,7 °
narrow: 7,3 × 5,5 °
Guidance Angle:
height: + 15 ° / -80 °
in azimuth: ± 35 °

[iSpoiler]

Video in the subject.

[Andrey77]

You're not right. We upgrade the submarine only on the way. And tanks. And the Americans are planes. And we are again small arms. And the Americans are again the surface fleet. If there are developments in which competitors "do not pull" - why do it with 0? Let's take the air defense. Why do we need a new system, if, having moved a couple of nuts in the old one, we will retain the leadership? Likewise, the A-10C has no competitors. If they appear, screw a couple of nuts and A-10D appears.

[Cat]

Quote: Andrey77

Similarly, the A-10C has no competitors.

And the aforementioned Su-25/39? Not a competitor?

[Andrey77]

No. Not a competitor.

[Raven1972]

Quote: Andrey77

tighten a couple of nuts and A-10D appears

And still it will remain the same as it was - a flying platform for the GAU-8A Avenger gun So there’s absolutely nothing to upgrade - there’s simply no place, so they even had to push the front landing gear to push this gun in

[Andrey77]

Now there is a flying platform for guided weapons. Well, they kept the gun. Moved the rack. And what?

[Raven1972]

Quote: Andrey77

Moved the rack. And what?

I repeat once again - there is no place for something new, the gun is rather big, there was a picture posted above with it, the maximum that they can do there is to improve the PNA, put it in more time and that's it ...

[Raven1972]

By the way, the Su-25 guided weapons are also hung

[Wedmak]

What mysticism ... On modernization, it’s easier to cut money in your pocket. And in the news, we must still think what to show later.

[1c-inform-city]

In Afghanistan, the Taliban destroyed 18 A10 during an attack on an airfield.
This amounted to 10% of the total fleet of aircraft.

[Andrey77]

Link to the source. Or did you personally destroy 18 A10?

[Windbreak]

Not the A10, but the AV-8B Harrier II. And six planes were destroyed and two more suffered significant damage

[Andrey77]

Now this is closer. And then 18 (eighteen) ...

[smiths xnumx]

The first combat use of the A-10 attack aircraft occurred during the 1991 Gulf War. In total, 144 aircraft of this type were involved in the operation, performing approximately 8100 sorties with a loss of 7 aircraft (on average, one loss per 1350 sorties). In one departure, a pair of Thunderbolts destroyed 23 Iraqi tanks and damaged 10; while hunting for launchers of the Scud A-10 tactical missiles, 6 stationary, 3 temporary and 3 mobile launchers were destroyed in one night. During the fighting, attack aircraft shot down two Iraqi helicopters (Mi-8 and presumably MBB Bo 105).
In Operation Desert Storm, the A-10 was also demonstrated for the first time. One of the Thunderbolts suffered severe wing damage; according to the ground technician, "No other plane would return to base [with such damage]."
Severe damage to the tail of the A-10A as a result of non-contact detonation of the warhead of the Igla-1 MANPADS missile. The plane has been repaired. Gulf War, 1991.

From airbases in Italy, the Thunderbolts took part in the NATO military operation against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 1999. There were no losses, but Worthog’s high survivability was again confirmed when on May 2 this type of aircraft made an emergency landing at Skopje Airport (Macedonia) on one engine. The second engine was completely shot and later shown on Yugoslav television.

A total of 2003 A-60 attack aircraft took part in Operation Freedom of Iraq in March – April 10. One plane was shot down on April 7 at the Baghdad International Airport. Another Thunderbolt suffered severe damage (one engine was damaged, hydraulic system failed, hundreds of holes in the wing, plumage and fuselage of the aircraft), but the pilot, Captain Kim Campbell, managed to land the aircraft successfully at the air base. After the completion of the main phase of hostilities and with the beginning of the partisan war, the A-10 continued to be used in Iraq.
Damage sustained by Captain Kim Campbell's plane over Iraq

[sergey158-29]

CLASS attack aircraft, with similar performance characteristics with the Su-25 at 3 (THREE) tons BIG combat load!

Americans are too practical to invest just like that ...